Elaeagnus ebbingei berry

Elaeagnus ebbingei berry

I planted a lot of Elaeagnus ebbingei bush as border plant, knowing that the berry is edible, good for birds and me.

This year there is going to be a big harvest, and is the first fruit to have of the year. Apparently it is a rich source of vitamins and minerals (especially vitamins A, C and E), flavanoids and other bioactive compounds. It is also a good source of essential fatty acids, which is fairly unusual for a fruit.

Elaeagnus ebbingei berry

The fact is the fruit is quite astringent when not totally ripe, and there is a big stone inside. This makes harvesting and processing not very efficient. Nice to snack on when walking pass the bush, tastes mildly sweet and sour.