Top 6 Underrated Native Foods
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.25.06
Almost everyone's familiar with pecans, Concord grapes, blueberries and cranberries. But there are many other excellent native foods that linger in relative obscurity. Here are some of the most underrated:
(1) Jerusalem Artichokes. As many authors have pointed out, Jerusalem Artichokes have no relation to Jerusalem, and little to do with artichokes. Instead, they are native to the U.S. Recently, people have started to refer to them as sunchokes or sunroots, due to their similarity to sunflowers. Their root, which looks like a ginger root, tastes like a cross between a radish and an artichoke. Today, they can even be found in some supermarkets — cook them like a potato if you across them.
(2) Amaranth. Not technically a native plant, but one that has been grown in America for ages, amaranth has seeds that can be ground into a flour or popped. They have a sweet, nutty flavor. Nu-World sells many types of amaranth products online. You can also find the flour and seeds in many health food stores.
(3) Mesquite. Mesquite is not only good for burning under a barbecue. Mesquite pods can be ground to create a warm and spicy flour. It's native to central Texas to southeastern California. Cocina deVega sells "Sweet Peruvian" mesquite flour for $6.95 / lb.
(4-6) Birch, Tulip Poplar and Hickory Syrup. Yep, it's not only maples that can produce great syrup for pancakes. You can harvest syrups from birches, tulip poplars and shagbark hickories, and each has it's own unique flavor. You can find these syrups here and here.
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That would be the Tulip Poplar (not Popular). Not really a poplar, it is more correctly known as the Tulip-tree (Liriodendron tulipifera).
Planting native plants is a great way to conserve water.
I live in the Pacific Northwest zone 8. Our summers used to last 2 months. Not so anymore, summer starts in April and goes through September. With the increase in temperature, many of my plants are suffering from drought stress. Not so for the native plants.
Jerusalem Artichokes (Helianths tuberosus) are not only edible, they are easy to grow and gorgeous. They need very little water or attention. Planted in the sun, they stand over 10 feet tall, with yellow blooms.
Be ready for mass production. I started with one plant, three years ago, I have over forty now.
They are tubers. Dig them in the fall and allow some to stay in the ground for next years' crop. (At least in this zone this method works.)
I am fighting the good fight against climate change. I use native plants, drought tolerant plants, drip irrigation and compost tea.
Oregon treehugger
Native *to America* that is.
Of the plants you've listed, at least Jerusalem artichoke, amaranth, and especially mesquite are invasive in other parts of the world. All three are considered weedy in parts of the U.S. as well. Just a warning to readers worldwide.
Sunchokes will give you incredible gas, beware. They are delicious, though.