Trees for Food & Drink

Beech wood perfect for smoking herring, and the nuts may be a good alternative to coffee beans!

Birch trees can be tapped in spring to obtain a sugary 'wine'.

Sweet Chestnuts were brought to Britain by the Roman Legions as the nuts are highly nutritious. They can be roasted or stir-fried for a tasty snack.

Historically, horse chestnuts were ground up and fed to horses as a stimulant, making their coats shine, giving them their name. However, the entire tree contains aescin, which is toxic to horses and causes tremors, lack of coordination, and gastrointestinal issues if ingested. 

The kernel of Ginkgo is roasted by the Chinese and Japanese, eaten like pistachios.

In China, rolls and thin roundels of Hawthorn are sold as sweets.

Drinks containing Hornbeam extracts are believed to provide energy.

The sap of the sycamore tree can be used for beer and the nectar from its flowers is excellent for honey.

Bay leaves, from the Bay Laurel tree, are used worldwide, especially in soups, sauces, stews, stocks, and bouillon.