EVEN more blackberries to pick!

On a walk yesterday in my local forest I was delighted to find more blackberries. As I rarely get an opportunity to gather these lovely berries and I love the taste so much, I decided to pick some. The next day I set out into the woods armed with a large plastic box. I spent a good hour wondering around the forest, occasionally meeting a dog walker or runner. I got lots of strange looks, which was understandable. They saw a girl in shorts, ankle deep in brambles, with dark purple stains on her hands and red scratches on her legs. On reflection I should have worn long trousers to protect my legs, even in this hot weather.

When I got back, I was hot and sweaty from the heat. I decided to make some iced tea using the blackberries I had just picked. I set to work and soon sat outside with a cold glass, enjoying the sun.

The iced tea is made with honey to provide a little extra sweetness and the apple tea add to the fruit taste but does not overpower the berries. I find that blackberries and lime are an excellent combination as the zest give a light freshness to the drink, as well as complimenting the taste of the blackberries. This drink is not overly sweet, so feel free to add more honey to match your taste.

Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

1 litre of boiling water

2 teaspoons of honey

3 apple teabags

200g fresh or frozen blackberries

Zest of lime

Method

1. Place the boiling water into a large pot along with the tea bags and 1 teaspoon of honey. Leave to steep for 5 minutes.
2. Wash the blackberries, then place into a blender along with the rest of the honey and the zest of a lime.
3. Blend the blackberries until it’s a smooth paste. Pass through a sieve to remove the seeds and excess pulp.
4. Combine the blackberry purée and tea in a large container. Stir to ensure that it’s all combined, then place in the fridge to chill for few hours.
5. Serve with ice cubes, a few extra blackberries and maybe a wedge of lime. If you are feeling fancy, place the glasses rim in water and coat with sugar. Add more honey if not sweet enough.

Disclaimer: Foraging for food is at your own risk. If you are not 100% sure of the plant, don’t pick it.

I recommend Food For Free (Collins Gem) as a good starting reference book as its small and can easily be carried with you while out walking and can be used to help identify plants.