Honeysuckle: tea, medicinal uses, jelly

WARNING!!

DO NOT USE THE BLACK FRUIT OF LONICERA JAPONICA (Japanese Honeysuckle). THE FRUIT OF THIS NON-NATIVE IS CONSIDERED POISONOUS BY SOME SOURCES, BUT MANY PEOPLE HAVE GROWN UP BELIEVING IT TO BE NATIVE HONEYSUCKLE. DO NOT USE ANY PLANT FOR ANY PURPOSE WHICH HAS NOT BEEN POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED! IT IS CONSIDERED A SERIOUS PEST IN PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES!

Bush Honeysuckle
Lonicera sp.

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Features/descriptions: Bush honeysuckles are deciduous shrubs that usually stand upright from 6 to 16 feet high. They have egg-shaped leaves that range from 1 to 2 inches and they have flowers that are tubular and fragrant. The flower's colors range from white to pink and turn yellow with age. They also have berries that are usually red or orange in color. The honeysuckles can be found often growing on the side of a road, in pastures, or in abandoned fields. Also, the bush honeysuckles are known to be found by bogs and lakeshores in parts of the northeastern United States. The plant is a native of Europe, Eastern Asia, and Japan.

Medicinal/edible part: Flowers, berries, and leaves.

Uses: As for the medicinal uses, the flowers were used in teas for fevers, flus, bacterial dysentary, laryngitis, a wash for sores, tumors, infected boils, swelling, and scabies. In experiments with the bush honeysuckles, flower extracts were also shown to lower cholesterol, and also proved to be antiviral and antibacterial. The bush honeysuckles have been used for many years as ornamentals. They are also used for soil erosion control and wildlife cover. Other uses include the growing of bush honeysuckles as a wildlife food source. Just beware of the fact that bush honeysuckles can easily overtake an area and altar the conditions around.

Preparation/recipes:The fruit of the bush honeysuckles can be used to make jelly when prepared just like blueberries.

Honeysuckle Jelly
Wash the fruit in cold water, but be careful not to soak them. Then heat the fruit stirring constantly. When the juice reaches 190 degrees Fahrenheit put it immediately in the refrigerator. When cold, transfer to bottles and store back in the refrigerator. Take 1 tablespoon of juice (cool, not hot) and combine it with 1 tablespoon of grain or denatured alcohol. If a jelly like mass forms, the juice is extremely rich in pectin, and 1 cup of sugar should be added for every cup of juice. If it doesn't become jelly-like at all, then pectin will need to be added. Now bring mixture to a rapid boil. The jelly is ready to set when it reaches 8 degrees above the boiling point. Store in sterilized airtight container.

Honeysuckle Tea
First, gather the leaves and flowers of the bush honeysuckle and make sure they have had time to dry out. Next, heat a kettle of water until it boils. Take the kettle of the burner and place leaves and flowers in the water. Let this set for approximately 10-15 minutes. Pour into cup and add sugar or honey if desired.

Researcher: Jessica Van Britson and Chad Garcia
Graphic artist: Jessica Van Britson