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There are situations when honeysuckle is bitter, but it is the earliest and healthiest berry, ripening in gardens in May. It develops an unpleasant taste for several reasons. This may be due to unfavorable weather conditions or varietal characteristics. Lack of moisture and dry summers turn even the sweetest fruits into a bitter delicacy.
Why does honeysuckle taste bitter?
Changeable weather in summer can spoil the taste of the future harvest. Rain and high humidity will only enhance the sweetness of the berry pulp. Drought and exposure to direct sunlight will add slight bitterness.
Bitter honeysuckle ripens in favorable weather conditions, when rainy weather alternates with sunny weather. This taste is considered the most organic, inherent in the fruits of this particular plant.
The Sinilga variety is initially characterized by increased, characteristic bitterness; weather conditions are not able to affect this quality
Shrubs with bitter fruit pulp grow mainly in the northern regions of the country.
Old selection varieties have the same characteristics. These include:
- Blue spindle - a hybrid bred more than forty years ago.
- Highlight - a variety obtained in the Urals in the 90s.
- Selena – a seedling obtained from Altai honeysuckle has been under variety testing since 1993.
- Fire opal - a frost-resistant variety with bitter berries, which has been included in the State Register since 1980.
Shrubs developed in recent decades bear sweet berries. To avoid getting a harvest that tastes bitter, purchase varietal plants.
The sweetest fruits are produced by the following hybrids:
- Gzhel early - a vigorous shrub that is included in the State Register for all regions of Russia.
- Lapis lazuli variety – medium-sized, winter-hardy shrub, high in vitamin content
- Bogdana – early-fruiting, productive variety. The tasting score of the fruit is 4.8 points.
- Bakchar anniversary – mid-season, productive variety with large sweet and sour berries.
Is it possible to eat bitter honeysuckle?
Some lovers like honeysuckle fruits to taste bitter. They can be eaten with almost no restrictions if there is no allergy. Berries that are bitter are processed into pastilles, jams, compotes and preserves.
In folk medicine, it is the bitter fruits that are used. They will help restore proper metabolism, cope with digestive tract problems, and lower blood pressure.
How to remove bitterness from honeysuckle
Honeysuckle berries become bitter if not properly cared for. The right variety, regular watering and pruning will make them sweet.
The harvested crop, which is so bitter that it is not at all possible to eat it, is processed with sugar. Pass through a meat grinder and mix with granulated sugar in a ratio of 1:1.5. The resulting raw jam is placed in the refrigerator for a month. The infused vitamin treat will not taste bitter.
You can also freeze bitter fruits for the winter. After being treated at low temperatures, they lose most of their bitterness and become healthier for the body. The berries are suitable for making compotes, jelly and jams.
Frozen, fresh berries are recommended for consumption in winter.
If you eat 5-7 pieces a day, you can protect yourself from colds with the arrival of cold weather.
Prevention of bitterness in honeysuckle
The key to the ripening of sweet berries in cultivated varieties of honeysuckle is proper and regular care. The plant is unpretentious, but does not tolerate indifference.
Young seedlings are rooted in partial shade. Under natural conditions, the shrub grows near the forest and does not tolerate exposure to direct sunlight. Close proximity to groundwater and drafts should be avoided.
Before flowering begins, fertilize the bush
After the color falls off, the plant is fertilized again. It does not tolerate chemical solutions; it is fed only with organic matter.
If the honeysuckle has overwintered on the site, pruning is carried out after the snow melts. Remove frozen and damaged shoots.
As soon as the weather becomes consistently warm, the shrub is watered regularly. It is enough to do this once every 2 weeks. Up to 10 waterings must be carried out per season.Each bush will require at least 3 buckets of water.
If necessary, remove weeds and loosen the soil around the tree. After watering, the tree trunk circle is mulched.
As soon as the first harvest ripens (mid or late May), there is no rush to remove it from the branches - it will taste bitter. It is necessary to wait for complete ripening and leave the berries on the mother plant for another 2-3 days. Overripe honeysuckle fruits lose most of their bitterness and become sweet. But it is not recommended to keep them on branches; they may fall off.
In the fall, honeysuckle bushes are pruned again. The branches growing inside the crown are removed - they create a shadow in which the berries become smaller and begin to taste bitter.
Conclusion
Honeysuckle is bitter if it is the fruit of a wild bush. Modern dessert varieties have a pleasant sweet and sour taste. To prevent a seedling from a nursery from bearing bitter berries, it requires proper care. At the same time, the wildflower growing nearby is not uprooted; it will serve as a good pollinator for the noble plant.
