If you’re keen on prepping & particularly spend some time in pristine wilderness, then you must know the berries to eat and not to in the wild. You cannot afford not knowing.
While berries aren’t a compulsory part of your diet in the wild, you can even decide not to eat them at all; you should know that you’ll be missing out on a luscious & nutritious vitamin-packed fruit.
Berries are very delicious. They contain every sort of essential vitamin & other beneficial compounds that foster organ & tissue health. They are even known for their brain-boosting abilities too. They are considered superfoods for a good reason.
However, if you’re familiar with plants in the wild, you surely know that there are poisonous varieties to every healthy plant that you find. Berries are not exempted from this. There are toxic berry kinds, as much as there are healthy, tasty berries.
In this article, we will highlight five types of berries to eat and three other types not to eat in the wilderness. You must take this seriously, as eating the unadvisable kinds can result in various diseases, including nausea, diarrhea, organ failure & even death.
Shortlisting 5 Healthy Berry Kinds to Eat in the Wild
Huckleberry
The huckleberry, so charmingly named, is a North American fruit that bears a very close appearance to the blueberry: a very dark shade of blue-purplish color & a round, plump firmness. There can be black or red varieties, too, though.
At peak condition, huckleberries taste sweet in a tart sort of way, and they make an excellent ingredient in every beverage, dessert & topping. What’s more: they pack a whooping lot of nutrients, making them ideal for the wild where you’re exposed to so many diseases.
You must be extra careful with huckleberries, though. They tend to have a toxic look alike that you should avoid eating at all costs.
Mulberry
Mulberry is a clustering kind of berry normally found in the subtropics of the southern & northern hemispheres. There’s a good chance that you’d mistake this fruit for large raspberries, except if you’re very good with berry identification — thanks to their very close appearance. Another similarity is that both are juicy, sweet & amazing in syrups, preserves & our fillings.
Mulberries are a prevalent ingredient in herbal teas, and they are richly filled with nutrients like potassium and vitamins B & C. To conclude, they are very rich in iron too.
Muscadines
Obviously, this is one of the berry types you wouldn’t instantly identify in exams, given that it does not have a “berry” after it. Muscadines, the oddball, is a kind of berry that sprouts on a North American grapevine species. They range in colors from brownish bronze to black.
Muscadines contain very high vitamin B2 & fiber levels, with a very little serving (say a spoonful) providing you with about a fifth of your recommended everyday intake. Expect these fruits to taste somewhat different and to feel fleshier than the typical berry. Speaking of taste, there’s some muskiness to the flavor of muscadines.
Not everyone will like eating this, but it is undeniable that they make excellent survival food.
Chokeberry
Chokeberries are berries that grow best in swamps & wetlands and only in the eastern part of North America. They taste tart —typical berry taste— but there’s always some sweetness to milk off. When fresh, they can be used in plenty of dishes, including jellies, juices, sherbet & ice cream.
The most impressive feature of chokeberries is their high levels of antioxidants, including anthocyanins & flavonols.
Elderberry
Your grandma may not like this fruit — do not force it on her.
Elderberries are small black- or dark purple-colored berries that cluster on tendrils. They are earmarked a superfood too, meaning that they are filled with vitamins & immune-boosting antioxidants. This means that they are very good foods nutritionally speaking.
However, there’s a catch to elderberries.
They taste very tangy & tart, such that they will most likely cause you to shut your eyes when first tasted. They also contain an alkaloid that leads to nausea when allowed to build up in the body — which is likely if that’s all you’re eating. Lastly, elderberries can be harmful if you are gorging on them.
The alkaloid in elderberries is neutralized by heat, so the fruit is mostly used in recipes involving cooked fruits.
Shortlisting 5 Berries to Avoid in the Wild
Pokeweed
Pokeweed is dark purplish & is most eaten by birds & specific mammals; they are unadvisable for humans, as few mammals will survive eating the fruit more than once.
While some parts of the fruit are edible, I suggest not doing so at all. The toxin may easily spread throughout the fruit. Note that the toxins of pokeweed increase as it grows, and it becomes more dangerous because it can be absorbed through the skin. It often leads to respiratory paralysis.
Mistletoe
If you’re looking to smooch with your partner, this beloved vegetation is just perfect for you, but that’s about it. Avoid smooching or eating the plant itself at any time. This means that the appetizing white berries are a no-no too.
Mistletoe is a parasite living on other plants, especially trees. The more important thing to note is that it has various levels of toxicity according to its species. And while it is not always fatal when ingested, eating the leaves or the berries can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, seizures, blurred vision, or cardiac arrest.
Holly
Holly is a beautiful holiday plant with equally appetizing & gorgeous bright red berries. Expect it to be a nuisance to kids & some mammals that can’t resist the captivating red berries.
Note that regardless of how beautiful these berries look, they remain toxic. Eating a couple of them can cause nausea, vomiting, intestinal pain & diarrhea. Keep your children & pets far from it.
Concluding the Berries to Eat And Not To In the Wild
Having a clear knowledge of the berries to eat and not to in the wild saves you from making the mistake of consuming poisonous berries. Educate your family & friends on these fruits to keep everyone safe. Remember that few people can resist the temptation of the reddish holly!