Poke (as in Poke salat

[earnie]

Pokeweed is listed as an herb but thought to be poisonous to mammals although I have heard of people eating it in its raw form without problems. The birds eat the berries. Here in the South it is found growing along the side of the highway and considered a weed. The young leaves are boiled several times discarding the water each time. The berries are used along with other berries in jelly making and is claimed to reduce the pain of arthritis.

 

[joe]

Thanks, Earnie. I had heard that you have to cook it to make it safe to eat.

 

[curious1]

When I was a child, I found a bunch growing & ate it raw. I was one sick kid & upchucked for hours.

 

[sarah-in-charleston]

My father cooked it. I remember it having an asparagus-like flavor.

 

[patbastrop]

I remember seeing pokeweed growing along the railroad tracks. I was always told it was poison.

I wonder who was desperate enough to cook it the first time? Was it a native american remedy? Interesting!