Berry ID?

[Raikiri]

Hi, new here but thought it would be a good place to post this, I think they're sloe berries but I'm not 100% certain.



Any ideas? Thanks.

[dave_norm_smith]

How large would you say the fruit was? It looks like a Sloe to me but it would depend on the size.

[Raikiri]

Similar to blueberries I would say, ranging from about 10-15mm.

[dave_norm_smith]

Looking at the pic again they may be Damsons. Check the 1st pic, the second one are Sloes. Try one and if it tastes nice its a Damson, if it taste nasty and draws all the moisture from you mouth than its a Sloe. However don't pick them until the first frost in the case of sloes as it improves the taste and picking ability.

[dave_norm_smith]

The size sounds right for sloes though

[Raikiri]

Cool, I shall try one and report back.

[shirlthegirl43]

Cool, I shall try one and report back.

Hee hee, at least you don't need saliva to type!

[rustylady]

Do the bushes / trees have vicious thorns? If so then they are definitely sloes.

[Raikiri]

Yup, definitely sloes!

@ rustylady, yep they do indeed as I found out just now.

[rustylady]

I remember that from when I was a child and Dad used to get me to climb the trees to collect the sloes from the top Whereabouts are you Raikiri?

[Raikiri]

I'm in Brighton, there's 5-6 bushes full of these not far from my house.

[Flummery]

Sloes. VERY astringent! Mega for steeping in gin though.

[taff]

Try one and if it tastes nice its a Damson, if it taste nasty and draws all the moisture from you mouth than its a Sloe. However don't pick them until the first frost in the case of sloes as it improves the taste and picking ability.

Thanks for that. On my foraging wander this morning I now know I've found three sloe bushes