North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

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> Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:11:34 -0500
> From: "Jim Fruth" <jimfruth@charter.net>
> Subject: [NAFEX] Sambucus rasemosa (Red Elderberry)
>
>
> Though many people think (incorrectly) that the fruit is poisonous,  
> it was eaten widely by British Columbia First Peoples. Clusters of  
> berries were gathered in July and August. Berries were detached back  
> at camp and cooked overnight in steaming pits or boiled in redcedar  
> boxes. Berries were placed over fires on skunk cabbage leaves and  
> dried into cakes for later use. To improve the flavour, red  
> elderberries were mixed with other kinds of berries. Recently people  
> mix the berries with sugar and make wine jelly or jam. (Lady Bird  
> Johnson Wildflower Center)

Please clarify....do you believe the fruit is non-poisonous even raw?   
Lots of sites on the web say it must be cooked before consumption.

Alex

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