uses for sorbus berries?

How about Mt. Ash berries? It's been a great year and there's so many of them. We're thinking maybe some sorbus juice mixed with a sweetener? Maybe make a jelly out of it?

It sure is a protector against scurvy!

I just went for it and brewed something up. There's a great contraption called a 'steamer-juicer', a three compartment stovetop deal that has a spout that eventually fills up with juice. We threw in the berries whole, no pitting, with stems, and out comes juice.

My two experiments. Sorbus + sugar. And another sorbus+ apple+ sugar. I'll wait a month or so to see how it tastes (hopefully I can find more fresh and do another batch, but right now the preserved stuff is precious.) Taste: sugary and tart!

I'd say about two pounds sorbus berry made enough to fill a small (16 oz?) glass juice container. I'll get more specific if anyone is interested. 

There is an interesting article on the harvesting and use of these berries, plus a couple of recipes at Sacred Earth
http://www.sacredearth.com/ethnobotany/foraging/rowan.php

When I looked up 'sorbus recipes', they tended to lean heavily in the direction of jams, jellies and wines.

Sue

Kelda,

Make sure to report back! I'm curious to hear how the experiment goes.

For the record there has been a fair amount of breeding work done on the Sorbus spp. In fact I was at Burnt Ridge Nursery a couple years ago and I tried the fruit from one there that was quite tasty out of hand.

Might look into planting a few of those, huh?

Daver

Report Back:
(well, since I canned it, I felt like I had to wait for just the right time to pop it open, ie Winter)

A 16oz jar of Sorbus-Apple concentrate I diluted into about a gallon of water, and added a little sugar. Then presented it to my fellow Native Plant Stewards at our Friday training. I added sugar while canning it, then now, and then left out the sugar for any Stewards who don't like tart.

So Instead: I'd do more apples. Maybe 1/10th berries and 9/10th apple. And I'd let it be tart and people can add personal sweetness however they choose.

And, the juice was Really good. A rich pink with some lovely tang. I wish I'd made more.

I have three hybrid varieties called ivan's beauty, ivan's belle, and shipova.  Also have cultivar called rabina mountain ash.  They all suppose to be edible fresh, but if I don't like them, guess wildlife might utilize them. 

Iowa.lk,

I think the one I tried at Burnt Ridge was the Rabina variety. The birds have routinely beat me to the Ivan's Beauties & Ivan's belles. Most importantly, the shipovas are absolutely awesome. Be patient, though. Our tree didn't produce until about year 12. However, it is a stunning ornamental and the fruits are excellent when they come. Although they are partially self-fertile, I would recommend planting a Bosc pear in the vicinity for improved pollination.

Good luck!

Dave