As you know from previous posts I have somewhat of an obsession with unusual fruit and veg. Normally I have to plant a young tree or plant and wait years before I get to sample the fruits.
Luckily I have a friend in the village who lives on an old estate with lots of unusual, mature trees. One of these happens to be the strawberry tree. And when I went round on Thursday last week they had a fruit waiting for me to try.
The fruits themselves look gorgeous, exotic even. Like a red lychees dotted all over the tree, picked out against the sun. The tree is beautiful as well, having lovely flowers and white leaves in spring and a great structure to it.
 |
| The tree is quite beautiful though. |
And how does it taste?
One word.
Disappointing.
I don't think I'll ever bother to try one again put it that way.
Tasteless, but the skin leaves an almost bitter taste in your mouth. Maybe there is some value as a survive food, but at this time of year there is so much else to eat I can't see why you'd choose this.
 |
| Bland tasteless flesh and a horrible skin |
It does make an attractive tree in the garden and the birds love eating the fruit so I can see why people plant them but I don't think it's going on my grow list any time soon. Good job I didn't have to wait ten years to find that out!
Anyone else ever had to wait years to try something they've been growing and then been really disappointed by it?
Beautiful tree, I've never seen one before x
ReplyDeleteNo neither had I. Something a little different.
DeleteI two such trees in my back yard, I live in Massachusetts, they bear fruits during the latter part of September thru the end of October, the fruits on my trees don't taste that bad, in fact when they're ripe they're sweet, they attract all sorts of birds, and bees.
DeleteNice tree, Arbutus unedo, the Strawberry Tree, so called because of the fruit but not meant to be eaten. From North America, it has nice bark as well, they grow all over the place in Western Canada
ReplyDeleteAh no, you might have been mislead by the title. This is cornus capitita so know as a the himalayan strawberry tree. The fruit is edible just not worth it!
DeleteIt is quite similar to Benthamidia japonica in our garden. Now, we have also ftuits with the same color and shape, and they taste a little sweet (without bitterness). It is popular in Japanese gardens.
ReplyDeleteA photo of its beautiful white flowers is in my blog post on 28 July.
I think they could be related as this is a Chinese dogwood by another name. The flesh is ever so slightly sweet but the skin is bitter. I'll have a look on your blog, thanks!
DeleteThe tree reminds me of the Killarney Strawberry tree: Arbutus Unedo. They love the peaty and acidic Irish soil.
ReplyDeleteWhen they said they had a strawberry tree that's the one I thought of. I think mum has just planted one as an ornamental in her garden.
DeleteI haven't seen any of those and I guess it is just as well. Lots of other things that would be better as edible and ornamental.
ReplyDeleteYeah there are better options around. Good to keep trying different ones though
DeleteI have never heard or seen such a tree. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteI keep looking for more unusual edibles. There's a few books on the subject that I've got so it gives me an idea of what to go for.
DeletePleased to find 2 bushes when I moved to my partner's Tasmania home - look pretty but as you say, disappointing fruit - tasteless and a little mealy fruit. Apparently they make a good preserve but hey- doesn't anything if you throw enough sugar at it!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about the preserve. Everything tastes good with sugar! Still a pretty tree to have in your garden.
Delete