I've not picked Alexanders in their early days, but very much enjoy the peppery seeds at the end of the season! I'll have to try them out. You had me in fits with the knife wrapped in a tea towel to prevent arrest, that is me!
Thank you for making my lifespan a little longer. I'm one of the ones who always hesitates to pick Alexanders even though, as you helpfully point out, the leaves are very different.
Went on a foraging walk last year with Flavour Fred and was introduced to the seeds but am very keen to try this. Might go Alexander hunting at the weekend…
Love using the seeds of Alexanders , dried and freshly ground . As Mark says , it is the same flavour profile as pepper but without the heat . Great seasoning for fish
I love reading these chapters, I learn something new every time. I’d never heard of Alexanders, what a treasure of a plant! The name also has a special place in my heart as it’s the name of where we stay in Key West every year. There on Tuesday!
I have still yet to actually see Alexander's in the flesh but I am very well versed in hemlock and hemlock water drop wort which both grow in an absolute abundance in our garden. I'm pretty sure I would be able to identify Alexander's in spring if I were to come across them and agree the leaves look only superficially like hemlock but do actually look a lot more like hemlock water drop wort unfortunately, an annoyingly lush and uncomfortable sinister looking plant...
I will have to keep an eye out for Alexander's when I next head anywhere slightly more coastal than my garden.
I am sorry for the hazardous nature of your garden! Alexanders is pretty common anywhere coastal towards the south, but as you say, sufficiently different from the two we most want to avoid (I hope!)
I love this, and it's always a good idea not to poison oneself whilst foraging. I once ate a handful of Lords and Ladies whilst showing off to a friend about my foraging skills. Now that's a mistake I shan't be making again.
Craig takes a knife on our walks to cut stems of Alexanders (which grow all over the hills of Hastings Old Town), then peel and eat raw. I’m going to make your ice cream for Easter! They are blooming early this year, meanwhile…
I like the fact that an untold future number of coastal knife-carrying individuals apprehended by tomorrow's constabulary might only be commonly linked by a subscription to one of Talk Talk's biggest fans.
It would have Columbo scratching his head wouldn't it...'I just can't figure why these moiderous individuals are out there in such numbers. and all humming 'Life's What You Make it...'
I went on a guided mushroom foraging trip about 10 years ago and was so terrified by his tales of all the mushrooms that can kill you that I’ve never been tempted to go again!
I was slightly shocked when you said the counter part you were worried Alexander could be if misidentified was Hemlock! But I loved the pictures of the leaves, it could be just my imagining but even the leaves of the hemlock scream spooky castle and witches caldron. They do look much more sinister than the Alexander.
I’m only just tiptoeing into the world of foraging and all I do at the moment is take pictures and compare them intensely to books on my return to either congratulate myself or thank myself I didn’t try anything just yet! I enjoyed this one Mark thank you!
And herein lies much of the imagery from fairy tales and folk stories - hiding a truth to be(a)ware of. And that is a very wise route into foraging, and I very much recommend John Wright and Liz Knight’s books, as well as Liz on Instagram
A group of us walked through a swathe of these last year in Aldeburgh. I merrily told everyone they were edible, and then I thought I should do a photo ID just in case - and sure enough it came up as hemlock. It was too late by then as we'd all ingested bits of it and so we all watched each other for symptoms. Luckily we proved the photo ID app wrong. The moral of this story is Know Thy Umbels.
I am going to make a massive & unpopularconfession, I don’t like wild garlic… I think it’s because I once picked a whole load, didn’t have the time or more probably the energy to do anything with them & they went all slimy in the fridge and now I just associate wild garlic with slime…..
I like the great John Wright's approach of encouraging novices to go for half a dozen entirely unmistakable yet delicious wild harvests and building on from there if they fancy
I've not picked Alexanders in their early days, but very much enjoy the peppery seeds at the end of the season! I'll have to try them out. You had me in fits with the knife wrapped in a tea towel to prevent arrest, that is me!
Great minds! And I shall be returning for the seeds later in the year too
Thank you for making my lifespan a little longer. I'm one of the ones who always hesitates to pick Alexanders even though, as you helpfully point out, the leaves are very different.
Better safe than sorry!
Went on a foraging walk last year with Flavour Fred and was introduced to the seeds but am very keen to try this. Might go Alexander hunting at the weekend…
Let me know how you get on
Love using the seeds of Alexanders , dried and freshly ground . As Mark says , it is the same flavour profile as pepper but without the heat . Great seasoning for fish
I'm already looking forward to picking some later in the year
A cautionary tale, but do like your description of the best way to act after lethal poisoning.
Sometimes when you drive into a cul de sac, there's no option other than to park up and get the flask out
I love reading these chapters, I learn something new every time. I’d never heard of Alexanders, what a treasure of a plant! The name also has a special place in my heart as it’s the name of where we stay in Key West every year. There on Tuesday!
Happy Alexanders holiday to you! And thank you
I have still yet to actually see Alexander's in the flesh but I am very well versed in hemlock and hemlock water drop wort which both grow in an absolute abundance in our garden. I'm pretty sure I would be able to identify Alexander's in spring if I were to come across them and agree the leaves look only superficially like hemlock but do actually look a lot more like hemlock water drop wort unfortunately, an annoyingly lush and uncomfortable sinister looking plant...
I will have to keep an eye out for Alexander's when I next head anywhere slightly more coastal than my garden.
I am sorry for the hazardous nature of your garden! Alexanders is pretty common anywhere coastal towards the south, but as you say, sufficiently different from the two we most want to avoid (I hope!)
I love this, and it's always a good idea not to poison oneself whilst foraging. I once ate a handful of Lords and Ladies whilst showing off to a friend about my foraging skills. Now that's a mistake I shan't be making again.
Thank you Antonia, and after that Lords and Ladies experience I am very glad you are still here to add your comment!
Craig takes a knife on our walks to cut stems of Alexanders (which grow all over the hills of Hastings Old Town), then peel and eat raw. I’m going to make your ice cream for Easter! They are blooming early this year, meanwhile…
I shall have to follow your and Craig's lead and try peeling and eating them that way! Thank you. And I hope you enjoy the ice cream
I like the fact that an untold future number of coastal knife-carrying individuals apprehended by tomorrow's constabulary might only be commonly linked by a subscription to one of Talk Talk's biggest fans.
It would have Columbo scratching his head wouldn't it...'I just can't figure why these moiderous individuals are out there in such numbers. and all humming 'Life's What You Make it...'
Perfect Columbine phoneticism.
Alexander's bring both fear and intrigue ,- ice-cream tips the balance! Will, with due caution and diligent checking, investigate further!
I hope you try it, having been very careful to be sure the leaves are the correct plant!
Definitely! As a wise forager once said to me,- Never munch on a hunch!
good advice!
I went on a guided mushroom foraging trip about 10 years ago and was so terrified by his tales of all the mushrooms that can kill you that I’ve never been tempted to go again!
And hence you are here to tell the tale!
I was slightly shocked when you said the counter part you were worried Alexander could be if misidentified was Hemlock! But I loved the pictures of the leaves, it could be just my imagining but even the leaves of the hemlock scream spooky castle and witches caldron. They do look much more sinister than the Alexander.
I’m only just tiptoeing into the world of foraging and all I do at the moment is take pictures and compare them intensely to books on my return to either congratulate myself or thank myself I didn’t try anything just yet! I enjoyed this one Mark thank you!
And herein lies much of the imagery from fairy tales and folk stories - hiding a truth to be(a)ware of. And that is a very wise route into foraging, and I very much recommend John Wright and Liz Knight’s books, as well as Liz on Instagram
A group of us walked through a swathe of these last year in Aldeburgh. I merrily told everyone they were edible, and then I thought I should do a photo ID just in case - and sure enough it came up as hemlock. It was too late by then as we'd all ingested bits of it and so we all watched each other for symptoms. Luckily we proved the photo ID app wrong. The moral of this story is Know Thy Umbels.
I shall have you a t shirt made with that on it
I am going to make a massive & unpopularconfession, I don’t like wild garlic… I think it’s because I once picked a whole load, didn’t have the time or more probably the energy to do anything with them & they went all slimy in the fridge and now I just associate wild garlic with slime…..
I suspect you are not alone!
I virtually never forage because I am so sure I will bring back something that will poison/kill me or my guests 😂
I like the great John Wright's approach of encouraging novices to go for half a dozen entirely unmistakable yet delicious wild harvests and building on from there if they fancy