Foraging 101!
It might be one of your new year resolutions, or something you want to get better at, or you may have even been inspired by our recent Growing Drinks in the Modern Bar series with Sam Egerton; but one thing’s for sure, you want to forage!
Wondering where to start? Well, that’s what we’re here for! We’ve pulled together a handy little guide, that covers a few of the basics. If you want to know more, make sure to keep your eyes peeled, as Sam Egerton will be bringing you an entire mini-series focused on foraging, as part of The Blends of the Virtual World.
The basics:
- Always be sure you know what you’re foraging, if you’re not sure – don’t pick it. Some plants are poisonous!
- Be as sustainable as you can. Never completely strip an area and leave enough for wildlife, and fellow foragers.
- Try to stick to species that are growing in abundance. Some areas will be protected and some you can’t forage on, so do your research and check with any landowner before foraging.
- Never cause permanent damage to the area and always be respectful.
- Bring the right kit (scissors, a reusable container, notepad, gloves and a long-sleeved top).
Location and seasons:
- Depending on the time of the year, you can expect to find a wide variety of plants, nuts and seeds wherever you are. Generally speaking, in most countries, spring through to autumn is the best time to go foraging but we’ve given you a few examples below of what you can find.
America
In Early spring, you can expect to find:
- Chickweed
- Clover
- Ramps (wild leeks)
- Plantain
- Oyster mushrooms
The UK
In late summer through to autumn, you can easily find:
- Lots of wild fruit (cherries, raspberries, blackberries, elderberries)
- A selection of nuts (hazelnuts, walnuts and sweet chestnuts)
- Oyster mushrooms
Australia
Winter in Australia will give you an abundance of choice, including:
- Dandelion
- Ribwort/plantain
- Sow thistle
- Wild Cabbage
India
Given India’s climate and geography, you have access to a large set of ecosystems and varying options across the country, but expect to find:
- Mallow
- Wild avocados
- Mango
- Mushrooms
Germany
Much like the UK, you’ll find a large selection of options from spring, through to autumn. For example:
- Baby pears
- Blackberries
- Hazelnuts
- Mushrooms
Hopefully with some of these tips, you feel ready to get outdoors and try it for yourself. Foraging can come with so many benefits and as the need for sustainability grows in our industry, it’s important we explore all of the options available to us. If you want to delve deeper into this topic, you can tune into some of the videos from Sam Egerton’s series that are currently live on our website. Find out how you can grow your own garden from the ground-up in “How Does Your Garden Grow” and how you can take these ingredients and use them in your cocktails in “Garden to Glass”.
If you do feel inspired to give it a go, tag us in your foraging pictures on Instagram @theblendworld and we’ll re-share your images!
Happy foraging!
