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View Full Version : Shining Sumac or Winged Sumac (Rhus copallina)



urbanfarmer
09-26-2011, 09:15 AM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhus_copallina

http://edibleplantproject.org/2010/09/sumac/#more-859

Anyone ever try eating it? I have several trees growing wild and I keep seeing dozens of little ones popping up everywhere. I'm tempted to taste a berry since it says it's safe and I BELIEVE I have positively identified it. It looks very different than the poison sumac and the environmental conditions don't match for the poison sumac either (very wet swampy conditions).

Does the wood make good firewood? There are so many of these trees I have examples growing that show 1 year, 2 year, 3 year, growth, and after 1 year it seems to have the fastest growth spurt. It grows very fast and I don't use a lot of firewood anyway. :mrgreen:

urbanfarmer
09-26-2011, 09:33 AM
Well, it passes the Universal Edibility Test; so, I guess it's safe to eat! LOL

keith_r
09-26-2011, 10:18 AM
i've had red sumac "tea" and used it dried as a spice on fish

urbanfarmer
09-26-2011, 11:59 AM
i've had red sumac "tea" and used it dried as a spice on fish
THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I WANT IT FOR THE FISH! :-)

How in tarnation do I properly dry this stuff and make it into a spice?

keith_r
09-26-2011, 12:40 PM
we just used a paper bag on the counter

urbanfarmer
09-26-2011, 04:44 PM
we just used a paper bag on the counter
So, you use the dried little fruit directly on the fish? I was thinking it needed to be ground up.

keith_r
09-26-2011, 07:38 PM
by the time it dries it crumbles pretty easily

urbanfarmer
09-26-2011, 07:58 PM
by the time it dries it crumbles pretty easily
Cool! Do you keep the seeds... or is it too much hassle to pick them out... or do they add flavor too?

keith_r
09-27-2011, 05:41 AM
i've never tried the white sumac, but the red is more like "flowers", the seeds are pretty small, so the whole thing gets crumbled, and then the fish gets dusted with it

urbanfarmer
09-27-2011, 08:25 AM
i've never tried the white sumac, but the red is more like "flowers", the seeds are pretty small, so the whole thing gets crumbled, and then the fish gets dusted with it
Hm... okay, got it! Thank you :mrgreen: