While the serviceberry as a shrub or tree is now primarily intended to fulfill visual requirements in most gardens, in earlier times it was mainly valued for its edible fruits. The berries are not directly poisonous when eaten raw, but processed products in which the berries are heated are very digestible and tasty.
Are serviceberry fruits edible and how are they used?
The fruits of the serviceberry are edible and rich in nutrients. They can be eaten fresh or made into jam, liqueur and tea. The berries are ready to harvest in June or July and change color from red to a dark purple or blue-black.
Harvest at the right time
The fruits of the serviceberry are usually ready for harvest in June or July, depending on the location and weather. Before that, they change their color from a bright red of the still unripe fruits to a dark shade of purple or an almost blue-black color. In order to obtain products of optimal quality when processing the fruits, the fruits should not be harvested too early. But don't take too much time doing this, otherwise you might be left behind. Many birds appreciate the fruits of the serviceberry as a treat. You should therefore protect smaller bushes in the pot from the danger of being eaten from the air with a net (€16.00 on Amazon). Since some of the fruits of the serviceberry only fully ripen gradually, you can harvest several times over a period of several weeks.
That's why the fruits of the serviceberry should only be consumed fresh in moderation
The seeds of the serviceberry, as well as the leaves, contain small amounts of so-called cyanogenic glycosides. The gastrointestinal complaints that occur after consuming large quantities of chewed seeds due to the cyanide split off can be unpleasant, but generally do not pose a serious he alth risk. In general, unchewed seeds of freshly eaten serviceberry fruits are simply excreted by the human body undigested. If the fruits are fully ripe and consumed in moderation, the tannins, minerals and flavonoids they contain are said to have a positive effect on he alth.
Variety of processing options
The fruits of the serviceberry can be processed in different ways and thus made usable for longer. As a rule, the fruits are mainly processed into the following products:
- Jam
- Liqueur
- Tea
To enjoy serviceberry tea, the fruits are simply dried directly after harvesting. To make a cup of tea, about a teaspoon of the dried fruit is poured into 200 ml of boiling water. You then let the fruits steep in the hot water for about ten minutes before you can enjoy the tea with the typical marzipan-like aroma of the fruits.
Cooking rock pear fruits together with other berries
Jam made from the fruits of the rock pear usually also contains other berries, as this can produce even tastier results. Since the fruits of the serviceberry themselves contain a lot of pectin, less preserving sugar is usually needed than usual. When making jam from the fruits of the serviceberry, simply boil down 600 g of serviceberry fruit together with 400 g of raspberries or currants using around 500 g of preserving sugar.
Tip
The edible fruits of the serviceberry are not only consumed by people fresh from the tree or processed. Fruit is also high on the menu for many birds. What is somewhat problematic is the fact that the birds taste the berries when they are still unripe and it is therefore difficult to get ahead of them when they are harvested. So if you have planted the serviceberry in the garden mainly because of its fruits and less because of its decorative appearance, it is definitely worth installing a bird protection net or other protective measures.
