Bike Path Foraging: Elderberries

Elderberries are ripening along the bike path! I set out to find some for an elderberry cobbler recipe and discovered a large bush along the Cap City Trail near Lake Farm County Park.

Elderberry season is late August through early September. The raw berries are astringent and should be cooked before eating. When harvesting, first remove the full berry cluster and then remove the individual berries just before using. Also, only the blue or purple berries are edible - DO NOT eat red berries!

I'm new to foraging elderberries and have never cooked with them, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I found the taste to be pleasant and they mixed well with blueberries in the cobbler.

A basic ethic of foraging is to not take any more than you need. Find a plant guide for elderberries here: http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=sanic4