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Mesquite

It is what it is.
Mar 5, 2008
27,807
2,893
62
~Hemel Hempstead~
When the damson are ripe and need to be picked :)

My local tree had a very good crop, so I got busy picking.
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I ended up with just over 5.5kg in a very short while. There was plenty left for anyone else if they wanted to pick them, if not the wildlife could eat well :)
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So I took them home, sorted and de-stalked them then washed before slicing and dicing 3kg ready for jam making.
The remaining 2.5kg has been sliced and diced and frozen ready to make some more jam next weekend :)
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So on with the boil
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First kilo of 3kg of sugar goes in. I use just ordinary granulated sugar.
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Nearly up to temperature. I was aiming for at least 105deg C
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Make sure you get a good rolling boil
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With Damson jam you notice a change of colour when you're near to the set. You can also see how much the liquid had reduced down.
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Time to start putting it in jars
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3kg each of damsons and sugar gave me 8 large jars and a small jar of one of my favourite jams. It's also great with sausages and makes an excellent alternative to cranberry sauce for the Christmas turkey
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Tony

White bear (Admin)
Admin
Apr 16, 2003
24,131
1
1,878
53
Wales
www.bushcraftuk.com
Good stuff Steve, we've got a tree full of them, very sweet and tasty at the moment... I think we've decided ot leave them be so as to avoid the responsibility of making something with them :D
 

Countryman

Native
Jun 26, 2013
1,652
74
North Dorset
Nice one.

I think it's sloe and damson picking at our place this weekend.

Won't be jam for us though. Cheers!


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