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  1. #1
    Moderator urbanfarmer's Avatar
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    Shining Sumac or Winged Sumac (Rhus copallina)

    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.

  2. #2
    Moderator urbanfarmer's Avatar
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    Re: Shining Sumac or Winged Sumac (Rhus copallina)

    Well, it passes the Universal Edibility Test; so, I guess it's safe to eat! LOL

  3. #3
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    Re: Shining Sumac or Winged Sumac (Rhus copallina)

    i've had red sumac "tea" and used it dried as a spice on fish

  4. #4
    Moderator urbanfarmer's Avatar
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    Re: Shining Sumac or Winged Sumac (Rhus copallina)

    Quote Originally Posted by keith_r
    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?

  5. #5
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    Re: Shining Sumac or Winged Sumac (Rhus copallina)

    we just used a paper bag on the counter

  6. #6
    Moderator urbanfarmer's Avatar
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    Re: Shining Sumac or Winged Sumac (Rhus copallina)

    Quote Originally Posted by keith_r
    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.

  7. #7
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    Re: Shining Sumac or Winged Sumac (Rhus copallina)

    by the time it dries it crumbles pretty easily

  8. #8
    Moderator urbanfarmer's Avatar
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    Re: Shining Sumac or Winged Sumac (Rhus copallina)

    Quote Originally Posted by keith_r
    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?

  9. #9
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    Re: Shining Sumac or Winged Sumac (Rhus copallina)

    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

  10. #10
    Moderator urbanfarmer's Avatar
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    Re: Shining Sumac or Winged Sumac (Rhus copallina)

    Quote Originally Posted by keith_r
    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

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