AT A GLANCE
Are parts of the hornbeam edible?
The hornbeam is edible: its young leaves are suitable as a salad ingredient or for green smoothies, while its small winged nuts can be used in cuisine. Animals can also feed leaves, twigs and fruits without any problems.
Which leaves of the hornbeam are edible?
The young leaves the hornbeam are edible. Since, from a botanical point of view, the hornbeam is not a beech species at all, but a birch plant, basically all parts of the plant are edible. Unlike the common beech, for example, you do not have to reckon with toxic substances here. However, since the large leaves of the tree have a bitter taste, only young leaves are used as an ingredient in food. You can use them as an addition to salads, for example.
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For which smoothies can I use the leaves of the hornbeam?
If you the young leaves of the hornbeam in spring, you can also use them for production green smoothie to use. A tasty combination results, for example, from the following ingredients:
- young hornbeam leaves
- baby spinach
- mango
- kiwi
- some cardamom
To make it, be sure to use a blender with a sharp blade. The leaves of spinach and hornbeam are rich in fiber. Not every device can handle these. However, a professional blender should be up to the task.
Are the fruits of the hornbeam edible?
The fruit the hornbeam are also edible. Unlike real beech trees, none grow on this tree beechnuts. After heyday the hornbeam grow small wingnuts on their branches. These are non-toxic and can also be used for culinary purposes. However, this is more of an insider tip than a frequently used dish.
Tip
Feed hornbeam to animals
Hornbeam also edible for animals. For example, you can feed the leaves, twigs and fruit of the plant to your rabbit without any problems. If you make a topiary on a hornbeam hedge in spring, a corresponding amount of fodder will be lost for animals.
