EatTheWeeds: Episode 19: Smilax

[JemarqueMarquis]

I was in my city park the other day, and I spent my time eating greenbriar and bullbriar. The young leaves taste like apple peals. And you were right , i ate alot of and got a "tummy ache". But I had some fast food afterwards and I felt much better.

[oaney]

I believe I have this growing in the woods near my house, but there are no leaves on it, and its full of thorns which I didnt see on the shoots you picked. Being spring, it looks like new leaves are forming on alternate sides which is good. The vine is green, the thorns are yellowish with black or dark tips. There arent tubers underground, but rather long vine-line runners. I will have to wait a few more weeks to see what the leaves turn into, and see if tendrils form.

What do you think?

[bloodshot2007]

We always called this plant a "cat's claw" because of the thorns.

[bloodshot2007]

We always called this plant a "cat's claw" because of the thorns.

[RaidenTheAlmighty]

When I was in elementary school, I went on a field trip and they pointed out smilax as one of the plants growing wild. I've remembered that for a very long time, but I didn't know could eat them.

I live in Charlotte County and they grow all over the place. The black berries always looked pretty tasty to me, but do you think they are any good to eat? How would you eat them?

[EatTheWeeds]

@RaidenTheAlmighty Smilax berries that go from green to black -- as mentioned on my website -- are edible if you are starving.

[davidbcohen002]

i can't find seeds online. can you send me some?

[jephboy]

This reminds me of the tips of snow peas that my mama used to cook for me.

[ManTheBush]

Is Smilax herbacea L. edible?

[EatTheWeeds]

@ManTheBush Thanks for writing. Yes. Cooked young shoots are edible as is the ripe black-blue fruit. The fruits also make an excellent sauce for wild meats.

[Farfromhere001]

The "if your grandmother doesn't recognize it as food" thing is from Mr.Pollen's "Food Rules".

[EatTheWeeds]

@Farfromhere001 maybe but I have been saying it for years, and I say great grandparents

[EatTheWeeds]

@Farfromhere001 I've been a student Mesolithic cooking and the paleo diet which in modern times is as our great grand parents ate.

[Whitleycb]

love the videos man, your mom raised you well.

[landroamer1000]

what can you d with the sime that comes out of them

and can you eat nutgrass thanks

[EatTheWeeds]

@landroamer1000 I never noticed any slime from smilax, maybe some sap now and then. As for nutgrass, which one? Do you have a botanical name?

[piklsty]

Deane, did you mean that the entire plant with red fruit should be avoided?

[EatTheWeeds]

The truth is I don't know. It is rare here and I've only seen it twice. I will do some research on it.

[EatTheWeeds]

I do NOT have any reference that says Smilax walterii is edible.

[quartermain1973]

what are some common names for the plant?

[EatTheWeeds]

I mention some on my webstie about this plant. This one's common name is Bull Briar.

[onetraveler]

Please give us some guidance on choosing the best smilax roots for the pot. Also, should you prepare/cook (peeling, fire roasting, etc) them as you would a potato?

Thanks!

[EatTheWeeds]

Personally, I think the roots are overated it foraging books. They are very hard. You can use them as a hammer, particularlly when dry. Roasting or boiling does not make them edible. Well, very young and small roots can be cooked that way -- marbles -- but larger roots have to be pounded and the starch leached out. It is very time and labor intense, which is fine when you have a village but hard for one person when other foods are much easier. I'm not sure the pink starch is worth it.

[onetraveler]

Thanks--will put them in the "Famine File". ;~}

[johnboyrebel27]

Hey Green Deane. Took me a minute to find this video but it is indeed the plant I was asking about. This stuff grows pretty commonly in my area Mid/southeast Ga. As I am sure it does in many area. These are mostly killed off with people thinking it a pesty weed. But now I know better. Thanks

[EatTheWeeds]

Good. If you go to my website I have an aphabetical listing of my videos, and articles in the archives on all of them. Just type the name in the search window.

[field16]

5:40 - You're going to leave some for other people?! Hahaha! I don't think anyone else is coming along to get that stuff! :-) (Unfortunately most people just don't know it's edible.) You're too kind to leave some for the other imaginary people who never appear. Awesome video.... I'm a big fan. 5 stars. Keep up the great work.

[noweirdbeard]

That sounds great.

You inspired me to go buy a book and learn more. I hope I got a good one because it was $38. :0

[noweirdbeard]

I know goats love this stuff.. I have always wanted to try it.. Never new it was safe for human consumption.

I love your videos BTW.

[EatTheWeeds]

Thanks.... I picked a bunch this morning for supper... If I eat a lot of them raw they give me a mild stomach ache, but cooked they are absolutely excellent. I boil them for a few minutes, seven to 10, then put a little soy sauce and olive oil on them...or butter, or both... Great Wild Easts...

[EatTheWeeds]

Thank you. I've been learning the production software as I go along but I promise not to use any Rockey theme music. The hardest part is keeping up with the season as edibles become available.

[Khono]

I like the subtitles you've got going now. Easy to read and supporting key points like name of plants. A great series of videos I'm linking to my facebook group.

[cutlerylover]

Thank you for another interesting video! I wish I had a local expert liek yourself to take me out and show me these thgins in person...I am still workign on finding one...I contacted my local palnt society but no resposne yet...

[Khono]

cutlerylover, one possibility with a local wild foods expert is first peoples in the area. You could maybe look up reservations nearby and see if you can contact them and ask 'em a few questions. I think that's one of the ideals since they're likely to be locals (as opposed to a field guide which might be all of North America) and the first peoples have a long history of eating these plants, so they should have a good idea of what's edible.

[cutlerylover]

Thanks for the suggestion...fater doign a bit of research I foudn that there will be a seminar soon about plants and local bugs and animals, I will go to it and talk to the presenter! Can't wait...

[Shyguyx12]

got yeah

[Shyguyx12]

You have me wondering now, why stay away from the red fruits? I assume, they must have toxic property.

[EatTheWeeds]

There are plenty of edible red fruit, but the smilax with red berries has no references to edibility. Thus, I err on the side of caution. I've never read it was edible and while foraging with old experts no one ever said it was edible. So, until some evidence otherwise, tis good to avoid it (it's rather rare as well. I've seen it just twice.)