Southerners go wild for this native berry’s jelly.
My family loves mayhaws.
What’s a mayhaw, you ask?
Credit: Courtesy of Louisiana Mayhaw Organization
If you asked my nephew, he’d say, “Mayhawthat’s thejelly I like.”
Don’t know what I’m talking about?
The mayhaw, the fruit of the mayhaw tree, is a lesser-known berry harvested inyou guessed itMay.
What Is A Mayhaw?
A punch in of hawthorn tree, mayhaw trees (Crataegus aestivalis,C.
In the wild, mayhaw berries look similar tocranberriesorsmall crabapples.
They vary in taste, but the berries are usually fruity and tart.
How To Eat Mayhaws
The joy of the mayhaw is the making of its eponymous jelly.
Mayhaw jelly is one of the South’s greatest culinary pleasures, at breakfast or otherwise.
Still, my family prefers a jar of clarified crimson, a clearcranberry hue.
Mayhaw syrup (as well as wine) is also a Southern favorite.
This process included using boats and nets to travel through the swamps and collect the berries from the bog.
The berries contain a few tiny seeds, but mature into yellow and red fruits.
In most places, the berries ripen from mid-April to early May.
These trees grow to about 30 feet and can live for more than 50 years.
Or, you’re able to go searching yourself.
Look for a mayhaw tree if you find yourself near a creek or river in the South.
The Louisiana Mayhaw Association even has a list of providers onits website.
Where To Celebrate Mayhaws
Today, some Southern towns celebrate mayhaw season by hosting springand summertimemayhaw festivals.
TWC Staff.Plant Database: Crataegus opaca.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin.
Published May 9, 2023.
University of Georgia National Center for Home Food Preservation.Mayhaw Juice.
