Page 178 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Birch (Black), Betula

lenta (BETULACEAE)

BLACK BIRCH grows 50-70 ft. (15-21m) high and 3 ft.
(1m) across, preferring moist, fertile soils. The bark,
which is dark mahogany or nearly black, is shiny and
taut in young plants, breaking into uneven plates as the
plant ages.
FLOWER AND FRUIT: In early spring, trees bear male
and female flowers arranged on separate catkins, 2-4
inches (5-10cm) long. Fruits are upright oblong brown-
ish cones, 0.75-1.25 inches (2-3cm) in length. They ma-
ture between August and September. Matt Lavin, CC-BY-SA-2.0
LEAF: Aromatic leaves are simple, alternate, and ovate, gar. In emergencies, you can dry the inner bark and
with finely double-toothed edges. The blades are 2.5 to
grind it into flour. Twigs can be used for tea.
6 inches (6-15cm) long and broadest near the base. Fall
GINGER BIRCH SALMON: Ingredients: 2 salmon
foliage is golden-yellow.
steak fillets, 4 tsp. birch syrup, 1 tsp. fresh ground
EDIBLE PARTS: sap, inner bark, twigs ginger, salt and pepper. In a bowl, combine syrup,
KEY MEDICINAL USES: This plant is analgesic, anti-in- salt, and pepper. Place salmon steaks in the syrup,
flammatory, and diaphoretic. Bark tea was taken as a turning them over to coat thoroughly. If you have a
remedy for stomach ailments. refrigerator, let them marinate overnight. Cook over
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: The sap can be tapped the fire, skin-side down in tin foil.
between late March and April. It can be consumed fresh, WARNING: Essential oils are toxic, easily absorbed
boiled into syrup, or fermented into birch beer and vine- through the skin, and potentially lethal.

Birch (Yellow), Betula
alleghaniensis (BETULACEAE)

YELLOW BIRCH typically grows from 60-80 ft. (18-
24m) in height with a trunk diameter of up to 2 ft. (0.6m).
In forested areas, its branches form a small, irregularly
rounded crown. It is commonly found in damp, acidic
woodlands.
FLOWER AND FRUIT: From mid to late April, tiny male
and female flowers are borne in catkins on the same
tree. The golden-purple male catkins are 2.5-4 inches
(6.5-10cm) long and droop from the branches, while
the stout greenish females are erect. These give way to Salicyna, CC-BY-SA-4.0
cone-like fruits, ¾-1.5 inches (2-4cm) long, which bear
ground into flour. Twigs and leaves can be used for
numerous winged nutlets within their 3-lobed scales.
tea.
LEAF: Leaves are simple, alternate and 1.5-2.5 inches
SIMPLE BIRCH BEER: Ingredients: 1 cup birch syr-
(4-6cm) wide and 3-6 inches long (7-15cm) long, with
up, 3 ½ cups boiling water, ¼ packet wine yeast.
finely double-toothed edges.
Pour syrup into 1-quart mason jar. Add boiling wa-
EDIBLE PARTS: sap, inner bark, twigs
ter, stirring until dissolved. In a small bowl, combine
KEY MEDICINAL USES: A decoction of the plant’s bark yeast and 3 tbsp water. When the birch syrup reach-
has been used as an emetic and diuretic. es room temperature, add the dissolved yeast. Screw
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: The best time for tap- on a mason jar fermentation kit and let sit for a few
ping is between March and April. To produce 1 quart weeks. Once the fermentation finishes, separate the
of syrup, boil 22-33 gallons of sap at 220°F (104°C). In beer from the sediment by tipping just the liquid into
emergencies, inner bark can be harvested, dried, and a sealable bottle. Age for 2 weeks before drinking.
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