Pick it! Try it! Like it! Wild Chokecherry

WILD CHOKECHERRY
Image Source: Charles de Mille-Isles, Prunus virginiana, https://flic.kr/p/8nwGwa
Ripe chokecherries are black, ¼ to
½ inch round and grow in clusters
similar to grapes.
Snack by eating raw, spitting out the seeds, do not
eat too much or it can clog your throat and stick to
your teeth. Your teeth will be blue for a little while!
Look for chokecherries that grow
wild in areas that have not been
sprayed with pesticides.
Boil chokecherries and remove seeds to make a
pudding or syrup.
Choose the best cherries and clean
them in fresh water removing
leaves and stems.
Refrigerate to keep cool or freeze
fresh for later.
Remove seeds and use fresh in muffin or pancake
batter.
Finely grind chokecherries, including seeds, to make
patties to dry in the sun to preserve for later use.
Use the leaves to make a soothing tea.
Nutrition Notes
Chokecherries are high in Vitamin K and the minerals
manganese and potassium. They are especially high in the
phytonutrient called lutein which is associated with eye
health.
Chokecherries are good sources of fiber which is provided
by the skin and pulp of fruits. Two kinds of dietary fiber are
soluble and insoluble. Fiber prevents constipation, helps
maintain weight, and lowers risk of diabetes and heart
disease.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 cup (154g or 5.4 oz)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 249
Calories from Fat 23
% Daily Values*
Total Fat 3g
Saturated Fat 0g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 8mg
Total Carbohydrate 52g
Dietary Fiber 31g
Sugars 14g
Protein 5g
4%
0%
0%
0%
17%
123%
10%
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* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily
Vitamin A 5%
Calcium 9%
Vitamin C 1%
Iron 6%
Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Sout h Dakot a St at e Univer sit y, Sout h D a kot a c ount i es , a nd U.S. D epa r t m ent of Agr i c ul tur e c ooper a t i ng .
Sout h Dakot a St at e Univer sit y adher es t o AA/E E O gui del i nes i n offer i ng educ a t i ona l pr ogr a m s a nd s er v i c es .
This mat er ial was f unded by USDA's S uppl em ent a l N ut r i t i on As s i s t a nc e Pr ogr a m (S N AP ).
Publication: 04-5045-2013
Wild Chokecherry Pudding
This is an adapted version of the traditional wojapi made by the Lakota/Dakota/Nakota
people of the Plains.
Ingredients
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2 quarts of chokecherries
1 gallon of water in a large pot to boil the chokecherries
Sweetener to taste
Directions
1. Wash and de-stem the chokecherries.
2. Add chokecherries to water and bring to a boil, then lower heat to simmer. Stir occasionally.
3. Boil until seeds fall out. Use a colander to separate the seeds keeping the pulp with the juice.
4. Add flour or corn starch to pulp/juice mixture. Heat slowly, stirring constantly, until mixture reaches a pudding-like
thickness.
5. Add sugar or other sweetener as desired.
6. Serve hot.
Image source: American Indian Health, Kansas University
Dried Chokecherry Patties
A food preservation method used for thousands of years by Native American women of the
Plains.
Ingredients
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Fresh chokecherries, the amount is dependent on how many patties you want to dry
3 cups of fresh chokecherries will make one 3 inch diameter patty
Directions
1. Use a sturdy grinder to finely grind the fresh chokecherries with the seeds. A meat
grinder that clamps to your table works best.
2. Fill the grinder and mash. Once all the chokecherries are mashed then put them into a container.
3. Make ½ inch thick patties with the mashed chokecherries.
4. Put the patties on top of a screen for drying preferably in the sun on a very hot day. This usually takes 2 or 3 days.
5. Once the patties are dry on both sides put them into a brown paper bag or cotton bag to store.
6. To reconstitute, put patties into water until soft.
Image source: David Blaine, DSC00562.jpg, https://flic.kr/p/kC4Zv
Chokecherry Tea
A soothing medicinal tea used by many Native American tribes in the U.S. and Canada.
Ingredients
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Once the chokecherry bushes are identified, pick the leaves.
Choose and clean the best leaves.
Refrigerate to keep cool until you want to use the leaves for tea.
Leaves can be dried for future use, store in a clean container.
Directions
1. Bring water to boil.
2. Put a few chokecherry leaves into the boiling water until you get the desired taste or add 1Tablespoon of dried
leaves per cup of boiling water.
3. Simmer for 15 minutes and serve.
4. Add sweetener if desired.
Source: Cheyenne River Tribal Extension, Eagle Butte, SD Image source: Dan Allison, Chokecherry.jpg, https://flic.kr/p/jUJKR