Identifying and picking wild foods in southern Finland of the leafy type.
This page is about picking wild foods safely. I'll illustrate the leaves of common wild foods you can eat while traveling in southern Finland. These raw foods are an excellent panacea for a host of illnesses.
This is for those who would like to pick and pluck from a garden patch, or forest edge, while vacationing at a summer cottage accommodation, or walking in the woods.
Knowing what to pick is the trick! And, the month of June is good time for picking wild foods in Finland.
Picking Leafy Wild Foods Basics
A while back, Aura and I took a course, teaching us to identify and use common herbs. We decided to grow an herb garden one summer.
Since I like a minty kick in my ice-tea, I use the fresh mint leaves to add into the ready made tea. I will also pick n' chew on the raw mint leaves. Be careful not to eat them late in the evening, or you might stay awake until the wee hours of the night.
Identifying mint. Here is freshly picked mint from our garden patch.
Clovers Valkoapila contain lots of proteins, and in June, they are everywhere.
Yep, you can eat the white clover heads you see in this picture. Eating lot's of raw white clover heads might cause digestion problems, but cooking the clovers for 5 to 10 minutes should aid in digestion.
Select the young flowers from a group like this. Compare the different sizes of heads.
While picking wild foods of the flowery sort, pick em young and small, I will show you: I selected a slightly younger one. Break off the head and pop it into your mouth. Don't eat the stem.
While picking wild foods, keep in mind to pick far away from the roads and industrial areas. Pick right after the morning moisture evaporates, on a dry day before midday.
If I need a boost, I eat 7 clovers, and I immediately feel better. Use these in a salad.
Before picking, ask the locals where artificial fertilizers are used. And, be sure to ask for permission before picking.
Tip: After picking wild foods, remember to come back to the same location.
That way you will find the same foods again and again.
Use well ventilated picking baskets to collect the foods.
Once picked set them out to dry.
Make sure to keep especially the leafy foods in a separate container to
avoid mix up of types species.
Here is a picked version, showing the stem.
There are over 25 types of Alchemilla in Finland growing between 5 to 70 centimeters in length. The smallest versions are in Lapland.
The Alchemilla leaf diameter is between 5 to 15 centimeters. The leaf is shaped like an egg. This is what you pick off the stem. Yes, you Can eat this.
I am pointing to the young leaf. That is the one You want to use for making some healthy warm honey tea.
The larger leaves are also used.
According to WikiPedia, ground-elder has other names like: "Herb gerard," "bishop's weed," "gout weed," or "snow-in-the-mountain."
Mix the raw leaves into a salad, or boil it like spinach.
The optimal picking time for spruce needle leaves is in the fall. Picking them in June is fine. Use these fresh or dried.
What to do after picking wild foods in Finland?
Why not make tea! Have some hot and healthy tea while traveling, camping, or after a hike.
Recipe for a cup of hot tea like this:
Use black currents to form the taste/color, or favorite black tea.
Bring water to boiling point
Add white clover and spruce needles in to a sieve
Add any or all of the above leaves.(preferably dried.)
Pour the water through the sieve and let it sit for 7 minutes.
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