this post was submitted on 01 Aug 2024
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submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
 

I live in the Rio Grande valley, not much to forage until the rains come in. But these New Mexico Olive trees grow all up and down the river, they are always so full of fruit. But they are painfully bitter.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Olive cannot be eaten straight out the tree, you have to process them before. I don't know the process but I'm sure their is a tutorial online for this.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 months ago

Olives need to be brined for at least 24 hours to even be palatable.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Same here in CA. Once we get into late summer, it’s mostly just waiting for the rains to come. And it’s a long wait.

Are these edible? I’ve never heard of this plant before.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Fosterierias are generally not considered edible, but I'm from the southeast and only familiar with F. Accuminata (swamp privet). There are a lot of plants in the olive family that aren't edible including ash trees and privet.

I found an article on eattheweeds.com, and even Green Deane says they're inedible.

https://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-6-december-2016/

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Interesting. In the past I read several articles saying they were, albeit bitter. I have eaten a handful of them (not all at once) without any issue, so far.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Inedible doesn't always mean you can't eat it, it can also mean that you wouldn't want to eat it.

Birch polypore comes to mind, it's not poisonous but it tastes so bad that you wouldn't want to eat it.