Foraging in January in Cornwall – With 2022 out of the way, we’re focussed on what’s ahead for our 2023 season. Putting on your walking boots or wellies in the rainy January weather is never overly pleasant but taking in the fresh air whilst walking through the woods, across the moors or sandy beaches is a lovely pastime, especially when spent with friends, family or just your dogs!
Whilst taking the countryside in your stride, you may spot plants that are desperately hoping for warmer weather to bring them back to life, but you may also be able to point out trees and plants that are thriving in the colder, wetter climates. Often people tend to think that the spring/summer is the time where plant life begins to bounce back to life, this isn’t entirely true.
In January you can stumble across a whole host of interesting plants to be foraged and used in the kitchen. The first one which is easy to identify is a blackberry. Although there may not be many left, you will find the last remainders hidden away. Perfect to gather for pies, crumbles, and any other sweet treats you want to rustle up. Want some recipe ideas?
Another great pick is Hawthorn Berries, here at Wild Cornwall we use Hawthorn Berries regularly. You will find that we create vinegars and syrups using hawthorn berries to add a tartness to a selection of our products: Forager’s Chutney, Hawthorn Malt Vinegar, Hedgerow Ketchup and Hedgerow Burger Relish.
Our Hawthorn Hedgerow Ketchup is one of our best sellers and it goes beautifully with chips, burgers (meat or veggie!), chicken or a lovely Cornish fish finger sandwich. But if you’re looking to use the berries in other interesting ways, you can concoct some lovely tasting jelly, tea and even gin!
Moving on from Hawthorn Berries, Juniper Berries which are commonly collected from September to December can also be found in early January. Thriving in chalky land and out on the moors amongst the rocky areas, Juniper Berries can often be found growing low to the ground. The most known use for Juniper Berries is for the flavouring of gin. However, we’ve experimented with combining Junipers with different berries to create some lovely jams – blackberry and juniper, gin and juniper marmalade and rhubarb and juniper jam, yum!
So, get your woolly hat on and enjoying foraging in January in Cornwall!
