Strawberry tree.

[bushwacker bob]

I found a strawberry tree(Arbutus uneda). are the fruit edible? I tried one and It is quite sweet. But.........

 

[gregorach]

Apparently so:

http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Arbutus+unedo

And here was me thinking that a strawberry tree was a completely fanciful creation that only existed in "Special K" adverts... (There used to be an ad which clearly showed someone picking strawberrys up a tree)

 

[andyn]

The fruit are edible but i personally didn't like them when i first tried them - but last year when i had some i quiet enjoyed the taste - wouldnt want to eat lots of them in one session though.

Make sure they are very soft and deep red in colour when you pick them.

I believe the portuguese drink medronheira is made from a fruit that is very very similar if not the same tree too.

 

[Roving Rich]

Any chance of a photo ? I found a tree with strange red fruit/flowers on it the other day - Still haven't got around to identifying it.
Cheers
Rich

 

[andyn]

found this on google:

http://www.funghiitaliani.it/Alberi/corbezzolo/Arbutus unedo.jpg

 

[JM]

arbustus unedo (arbouse in French) is very common here arround, and the fruits are totally edible. They are sweet, but a bit dry. can be used to make jam and beverages. One gets bored of them quickly though.

The french version of wikipedia is more complete on this than the english one:

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbouse

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawberry_Tree

 

[Tantalus]

the unedo part of its name is supposed to mean, "you will eat only one" a comment on the flavour of the fruit

they are not toxic or totally unedible just not very more ish

Tant

 

[Moonraker]

Arbutus fruit are the main constituent in the Portuguese firewater/ eau de vie called Medronho. Cheap and wicked stuff and nearly always illegally distilled in the Sierra de Monchique above the Algarve They also make a sweeter liquor version. Like this photo:

source: http://www.manbos.com/verfoto.asp?idfoto=2793&codsql=1

Recipe and more details:

It is an evergreen shrub or small tree of 1-5 metres with dark red fruit of 25 mmm diameter and which weigh between 4-8 grams. It is distributed mainly in the Eastern Mediterranean area, but also occurs as a survivor of the Ice Age in Southern Ireland. The mature fruit contains over 15% sugar and 0.66% malic acid, and because of its high sugar content, the fruit is used to make marmelade and is fermented to make wine which is also distilled to make a clear eau-de-vie. The fruit is also macerated in grappa/orujo to make a liqueur. 'Aguardente de Medronho' or simply 'Medronho' is a spirit unique to the Portuguese Algarve province, where it generally is a product of home distillation and is sold "unofficially". A Portuguese site says that it is produced by fermenting 5 parts of fruit with 1 part water for over 2 weeks and then distilling to a strength of 50%abv. See: http://www.gastronomias.com/bar-bebidas/frutos.htm. The Portuguese 'Brandymel' also from Algarve, is made with medronho sweetened with honey. On the French island of Corsica they make a 'Liqueur a l'Arbouse' and a sweeter 'Creme d'Arbouse'. On the Italian island of Sardinia they make an 'Acquavita di Corbezzolo' similar to the Portuguese 'Aguardente de Medronho', and also a 30%abv liqueur, 'Liquore di Corbezzolo (di Sardegna)' while another distillery makes a 24%abv liqueur called 'Fior di Corbezzolo'. I also came across a Spanish recipe for a 'Licor de Madrono' which looks rather sweet -

Madrono Liqueur (Strawberry Tree fruit liqueur)
1 kg strawberry tree fruit
1 litre alcohol (50%bv)
250 ml water
0.5 kg to 1 kg sugar
Wash fruit and place in large glass jar. Dissolve sugar in hot water to make a sugar syrup. Pour alcohol and cold sugar syrup over fruit in jar. Leave to macerate for 6 months. Filter and bottle.

source: http://homedistiller.org/liqueurs.htm

I have found that the flavour of the fruit varies quite a lot from tasteless as Tant noted to very juicy and delicious. I would guess this is down to more thorough ripening in more southern climes and also the naturally occurring variation in fruit.

If you can't eat it, ferment it