davhope Posted September 5, 2005 Report Share Posted September 5, 2005 Was out for a walk yesterday, picking brambles and noticed loads of sloe berrys. Is there a proper time to pick them or can you just bung them in the freezer and then add them to the gin? cheers Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piebob Posted September 5, 2005 Report Share Posted September 5, 2005 I've always waited until after the first frost. I've found out (here I think) that frost bursts / damages the internal berry tissue and allows more flavour out. Whether or not this is true I have no idea. I guess freezing would have the same effect if you picked the berries earlier. Piebob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted September 5, 2005 Report Share Posted September 5, 2005 (edited) Dave, People <used> to wait for the first frost, but if they look ready get them in the freezer now. I guess you know the rest "don't bother pricking them etc etc..." ?? I still have some from last year, I really must get my AIG and by some Gin to get another batch on the go. Edited September 5, 2005 by stuartp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pike Posted September 5, 2005 Report Share Posted September 5, 2005 Being a traditionalist I tried to wait until the first frost last year but it got to November and we still hadn't had one - by which time most of them had gone over ripe and mushy. I wll probably give mine another three - four weeks then ***** each one three times with a Blackthorn! P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted September 5, 2005 Report Share Posted September 5, 2005 Where I live the WI bregade will have been out well before that! (if we get a frost that is) bit like the blackberries some ****** had been out with a strimmer to gain more access - what's the world coming to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted September 5, 2005 Report Share Posted September 5, 2005 I wll probably give mine another three - four weeks then ***** each one three times with a Blackthorn! You do know that freezing them and chucking them in Gin splits the berries for you Pike? I know some people still like to ***** them all anyway, but a lot of folk don't realise that freezing also works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted September 5, 2005 Report Share Posted September 5, 2005 It also can burst the stone slightly and make it bitter,personal preferance is to *****. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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