Himalayan Balsam
This is a fun to forage plant, and is an invasive species in the U.K. it grows abundantly along river banks is great for bees and other pollinators . the seed pods explode when you touch them the seeds can be launched upto 7 meters away from the pod ( that’s why it’s fun to forage.
All parts of the plant can be eaten, the Young leaves are good in salads whilst the older leaves are better in soups and stews, the flowers are good to add to jams and jellies.
But the seeds are the best part of this plant as the can be used as a nut alternative for allergy sufferers . They have hazelnut/ walnuty taste and can be substituted in cakes and breads. They can be ground into a four also and make a good substitute for ground Almonds.
It Also makes a particularly good curry and is commonly eaten in northern India, check out the link in sources bellow eatweeds.co.uk for a great recipe
Found along riverbanks mainly,
It is an invasive pest of a plant in the uk and can grow upto three meters tall, it’s fast growing and can quickly crowd out more native plants,dying back completely in winter this causes river bank erosion problems and contribute to flooding. the more seeds we gather and use for food the better you will be helping the environment 🤗.It is good to note that it is illegal to plant the seeds in the wild in the U.K. and you wouldn’t want to plant them domestically as the can quickly take over if not managed ( I have an abundance of it in my garden!
The seeds can be gathered and stored the best way to collect the seeds is to place a bag over as many seed heads as you can and give them a shake. Kept in your store cupboard to be used as a nut substitute .
The young seed pods can also be collected ( before the explosive stage) and cooked like mangtout or sugar peas or eaten raw off the plant.
Identification is fairly easy the leaves are long and pointed with a slight serration along the edges and have a slight red vein the flowers are pink white or purple and have bell or hooded appearance earning them the nickname policeman’s helmet.
Collect the flowers around June July time. Seeds can be harvested August through to September.
Do Not Plant the seeds!
Sources
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