What to do with those Oregon grape berries

Sometimes the most ordinary, unremarkable looking plants growing in our forests and neighbourhoods can have some surprising characteristics. Oregon grape is found growing in wet and dry areas throughout the Thompson-Okanagan with its signature tipped leaves, bright yellow flowers and clusters of dull blue berries, but some may not know it is much more than a hardy little shrub. The berries are currently in season, and some folks are making jellies, jams and even wine out them. Arguably not the best tasting berries — they are a bit wild tasting and tart —the berries are packed full of nutrients. Oregon grape grows from southern BC to California in a variety of habitats and is commonly found growing under Douglas Fir trees.  Historically, Indigenous people used parts of the plant to treat a variety of ailments including syphilis and arthritis, and as a laxative, according to the Oregon Encyclopedia https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/oregon_grape/ . The yellow roots and bark were used to make yellow dye. The berries were eaten in small amounts or dried to be consumed in the winter months, or made into preserves and jelly.  “Modern jelly-makers collect ripe Oregon grape fruits, then extract the juice by squeezing the berries through a muslin bag to separate the skins and seeds from the juice,” the article reads. “If enough pectin and sugar is added, the resulting jelly has the color of clean motor oil and is not unpleasant tasting.” A foraging company in Vancouver called Swallowtail posted a recipe for Oregon Grape jelly with ginger.  https://swallowtail.ca/oregon-grape-jelly/ To make one jar of jelly, you will need 1.5 cups Oregon grape juice, 1.5 cups of sugar, 1/4 tsp of fresh ginger and 1/2 oz of commercial pectin.  READ MORE: More residents illegally dumping trash, others trying to clean it up in Thompson-Okanagan https://infotel.ca/newsitem/more-residents-illegally-dumping-trash-others-trying-to-clean-it-up-in-thompson-okanagan/it106159 According to numerous sources, eating too many of these berries can cause diarrhea. Go here for more information on the health benefits and side effects https://www.verywellhealth.com/oregon-grape-benefits-4590368 of consuming Oregon grape. To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Ainslie mailto:sainslie@infonews.ca  or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .