In May, hawthorn trees are in full bloom. These white and pink blossoms symbolize new beginnings, life, love, and hope.
The hawthorn tree is one of the most sacred trees in Celtic mythology. Traditionally, during the Celtic festival of Beltane, the blooming of the hawthorn tree marked the beginning of the festival celebrations. Hawthorn branches were used to decorate homes, and the flowers were woven into crowns.
It is also renowned for being the home of the fairies, and gifts to the fae were often used to decorate hawthorn trees. Before the Maypole, the hawthorn tree was the focal point of the festivities. Hawthorn branches still feature in May Day celebrations, and the Anglicized word for Beltane, is still celebrated.
But did you know that the young leaves and flowers of the hawthorn tree are also edible?
Where to find Hawthorn
Hawthorn trees (crataegus monogyna) are native to the UK, and temperate regions of Europe, North America, Asia, and North Africa.
Hawthorn trees are hardy plants, so they can be found on a range of terrains, in full sun or part shade.
What to look for
Hawthorn trees reach about 13 ft tall. The leaves of the hawthorn tree are around 6 cm / 2.5 inches in length and have toothed lobes and serrated edges, which cut at least halfway to the middle or 'mid-rib'. Some people think that they also resemble “mittens''.
The flowers are usually white, but can also be pink. They gather in dense little flat-topped clusters. They have a sweet, almondy aroma. Some people find the aroma of hawthorn flowers to be “sickly”. This is because of a chemical that they produce, trimethylamine, which is also one of the first chemicals released by decomposing corpses. People suggest this to be the reason that the hawthorn tree is also symbolically associated with death.
What is edible
The young leaves, flowers, and flower buds of the hawthorn tree are all edible. They can be added raw to salads, or made into tinctures, cordials, or steeped as tea.
The berries produced by the hawthorn tree are also edible but are tart-tasting and may cause a mild stomach upset in some people if eaten raw. However, they are incredibly nutrient-rich, so steeping them in teas or making them into jams, jellies, or ketchup has many reported health benefits. Hawthorn berries can also be made into wine.
Health benefits
Hawthorn is rich in nutrients and consuming all edible parts is proven to have numerous potential health benefits by various studies.
Hawthorn is rich in:
- Amino acids
- Minerals
- Vitamin C
- Epicatechin (an antioxidative flavonoid)
- Pectin
- Chlorogenic acid
- Choline
Hawthorn has been shown in studies to be particularly beneficial for helping to prevent and potentially treat cardiovascular disease. It also has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and digestive-enhancing properties.
Hawthorn flower syrup recipe
To take advantage of the hawthorn flowers in May, try a hawthorn flower syrup.
Directions:
- Remove any twigs and insects from your hawthorn blossom
- Weigh out equal parts hawthorn blossom and caster sugar
- In a sterilized jar, lay a layer of flowers, then sprinkle with caster sugar. Repeat this layering process until the jar is full. Top with three dessert spoonfuls of filtered water.
- Cover the top with muslin and secure with string or a rubber band.
- Place the jar in a saucepan of water that reaches two-thirds of the depth of the jar.
- Bring the water to a low simmer. This will start to dissolve the sugar.
- Simmer the saucepan on low for about an hour. Continue to top up the water as it starts to evaporate.
- Remove the jar from the water and screw the cap onto the jar. Allow it to sit overnight at room temperature.
• 9. The next day, filter out the flowers from the jar and pour the syrup into sterilized jars. These can be stored in the fridge for a few months.
Sources
Woodland Trust. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/hawthorn/
Wu M, Liu L, Xing Y, Yang S, Li H, Cao Y. (2020). Roles and Mechanisms of Hawthorn and Its Extracts on Atherosclerosis: A Review. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7047282/
Zhang J, Chai X, Zhao F, Hou G, Meng Q. (2022). Food Applications and Potential Health Benefits of Hawthorn. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9498108/
