I tried a sumac tea made from the red berry clusters of staghorn sumacs (Rhus typhina). Other native sumacs, such as fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica) and smooth sumac (Rhus glabra), also have edible berries which can be used for tea or lemonade. These three sumac species can be identified by compound leaves that turn to orange, yellow or red in the fall, fuzzy red fruit in clusters, and often appear in thickets.
This showy native species' fruit clusters add colour to our urban environment. And while their edible nature is a bonus for us, the berries are an important food source for our neighbouring chickadees who rely on them during the fall and winter times. So I'm always careful to leave enough to share!
A mug of sumac tea
- 3-4 berry clusters of different sizes
- Steep for about 5-10 minutes. Don’t leave it for too long in hot or boiled water because sumacs do contain tannic acid.
- Use a filter/strainer to take out the berries, twigs and fuzzy residues left behind (ex. coffee filter).
The tea I made had a reddish-tint, and a fruity, raspberry-like flavour. Like most fruit tea blends, sumac tea reminded me of summer or a nice sunny day making it more attractive to try out its cooler variety when the GTA warms up. As a local, native alternative to fruit teas and lemonade, sumac fits right in!
Want to try these edible trees and shrubs for yourself? Be careful! Make sure to identify the edible species correctly before picking. And If you're brewing a batch with your kids, always make sure to keep a close eye on their foraging.
Poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) looks similar to staghorn and smooth sumac, but it has glossy white fruit clusters and smoother leaf margins. Fragrant sumac also closely resembles poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) due to having 3 leaflets. However, poison ivy produces white berries and its middle leaflet’s stem is longer compared to fragrant sumac.
If in doubt, don’t touch! There are several good tree, shrub and plant identification guides available (books, online, etc) that differentiate between species and whether they are edible for human consumption.
In addition, pick only what you need. Taking out fruits, leaves, and twigs of a tree or shrub is also pruning, which can be stressful especially for younger trees and those in more urbanized areas. Trees and shrubs in our urban forest provides us with many benefits - delicious treats are only a few of them.
LEAF offers the fragrant sumac through its Residential Planting Programs. So if you want to grow your own, book a consultation today. And always remember the most important thing when it comes to making your own locally sourced tea - enjoy it with the people you love most!