ForestHarvest: non-timber forest products in Scotland

 PRODUCTS

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)

Also known as Sloe

Family: Rosaceae

Description

Spiny shrub or small tree with white blossom in early spring and purple berries (sloes) in the autumn.

Habitat

Hedgerows and broadleaved woodlands.

Uses

Sloes are made into sloe gin and jelly. They can also be eaten raw (best after the first frosts), though are rather astringent and not to everybody's taste.

Sloes can be used to prepare a mauve dye.

Gathering

Pick sloes after the first frosts of late autumn.

Image provided by William Milliken/RBGE

Other information

Sloes are among the 10 most commonly gathered Scottish NTFPs, according to the Wild Harvests report.

Sloe gin: Prick the sloes with a fork or skewer. Mix the berries with half their weight in sugar, and half-fill the bottles with this mixture. Then fill them with gin. Agitate occasionally during the first month, and leave for a year if you can bear it.