Hawthorn

What Is Hawthorn?

Hawthorn is the fruit of shrubs or small trees of the Crataegus genus, belonging to the rose family (Rosaceae). It grows wild in nearly every region of Turkey, especially in rural and mountainous areas. Its small, round, red-colored fruits have a texture and taste somewhere between apple and wild pear.

In some regions it is eaten as a snack while still green, hard and sour; once ripe it turns red, softens and its taste becomes mildly sweet.

Nutritional Values of Hawthorn

No official and verified nutritional database record could be found for hawthorn; therefore no numerical nutritional table is provided. Botanical literature notes it contains compounds such as flavonoids and procyanidins.

What Are the Benefits of Hawthorn?

Hawthorn is a plant whose extract has been researched especially in European phytotherapy for cardiovascular support; some studies have reported supportive effects on heart-failure symptoms. However, this is based on standardized herbal extract studies, distinct from consuming the fruit as food.

This information is general; hawthorn is a food, not a substitute for medical treatment. It is important that those taking heart medication such as digoxin not consume hawthorn-based herbal products without consulting their doctor.

How to Choose Hawthorn?

For fresh consumption, dark red, glossy-skinned and slightly softened berries are preferred.

• Wrinkled, browned or moldy berries should be discarded.
• Green-hard berries are sour and astringent; ripe ones should be preferred for snacking.
• Clusters with a stem that is still fresh and green have been picked more recently.

How to Store Hawthorn?

Fresh hawthorn keeps for a few days in a cool, dry place, and a bit longer in the refrigerator. For long-term storage it is dried in sun or shade; dried hawthorn keeps for months and is used to make tea.

Using Hawthorn in the Kitchen

In Turkey hawthorn is mostly consumed fresh as a snack; its dried slices are brewed as tea or a decoction. In some regions it is also used to make jam and molasses.

How to Make Hawthorn Tea?

Dried hawthorn slices or berries are added to boiling water and steeped for 8-10 minutes; strained and served hot. It can be sweetened with honey or cinnamon if desired.

Which Recipes Use Hawthorn?

Hawthorn tea, hawthorn jam and hawthorn molasses are the best-known regional uses; in some regions dried hawthorn is also added to winter dried-fruit mixes.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is hawthorn picked?

Hawthorn generally ripens in September-October; in some regions it is also picked and eaten while still green in late summer.

Is the seed of hawthorn eaten?

Hawthorn seeds are hard and not eaten; they are generally chewed and spat out, or separated by sieve when making jam/molasses.

Is hawthorn good for the heart?

Standardized extracts of the hawthorn plant have been researched for heart health in European phytotherapy; however, expecting the same effect from eating the fresh fruit is not accurate, and those taking heart medication are advised to consult their doctor.

Are hawthorn and loquat the same thing?

No, they are different fruits. Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) is larger, yellow-orange and belongs to a separate family; hawthorn is small, red and belongs to the Crataegus genus.

Where does hawthorn grow?

It is a common wild fruit that grows on its own in nearly every region of Turkey, especially along forest edges and in rural areas.