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NAME: Black Walnut

SPECIES / FAMILY:  Juglans Nigra / Juglandaceae

OTHER COMMON NAME(S): 

CONDITIONS: sun-partial shade
 

PARTS:

EDIBLE cid:image001.jpg@01D3EC3E.A305A520

TASTE

RAW/COOK

SEASON

All

  

 

 

 

Shoots

 

 

 

 

Leaves

(5)

      

Stalk/Stem

 

 

 

 

Buds

        

Flowers

 

 

 

 

Fruits

 

 

 

 

Pods

  

 

    

Seeds

 

 

 

 

Nuts

bitter/walnut

RAW/COOK

Summer/Fall

Roots

 

 

 

 

Bark

 

 

 

 

Sap

sweet

RAW/COOK

Spring

 

PORTION: small

 

COMMENT: Black walnuts grow everywhere! They differ from English walnuts because of their increased tannin content, which gives them a sharper taste. // Sap; Seed/Nut - raw or cooked. A sweet, rich distinctive delicious flavour it makes an excellent dessert nut and is also widely used in confections, cakes etc. The kernel is hard to extract and the oil it contains quickly turns rancid. The unripe fruits can be pickled. The seed is borne in solitary fruits or in pairs and is 3 - 4cm in diameter. The nuts can leave a permanent stain on clothing. An edible oil is obtained from the seed. A sweet taste but it tends to go rancid quickly. Used as a seasoning in bread, squash and other foods. The tree yields a sweet sap that can be drunk or concentrated into syrup or sugar. It is tapped in spring.(1) Also, leaves can be used as a tea.


Conventional advice on processing:

Editor:  It has been my limited experience that it is far less messy to let the walnuts dry thoroughly, with the hulls on, for several months before cracking open, avoids liquids staining hands and garments (although I haven't seen this advised anywhere).

 

CAUTION: The plant has occasionally been known to cause contact dermatitis in humans.(1)

 

NUTRITION/MEDICINAL:  A source of Omega 3 fatty acid. // Alterative;  Anodyne;  Antiinflammatory;  Astringent;  Blood purifier;  Detergent;  Laxative;  Pectoral; Vermifuge.(1)

LOOK-A-LIKES:  

 

POISONOUS LOOK-A-LIKES: 

 

OTHER USES: Beads;  Compost;  Dye;  Filter;  Herbicide;  Insecticide;  Oil;  Repellent;  Tannin;  Wood.(1) Fish poison (4) Walnut oil makes a great wood finish/polish when bees wax is added - https://www.gardenbetty.com/homemade-spoon-oil-or-as-i-like-to-call-it-spoon-butta

 

SOURCE LINKS (may include nutritional and medicinal info, plus other uses):

  1. https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Juglans+Nigra
  2. http://www.eattheweeds.com/black-walnuts-and-butternut
  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juglans_nigra
  4. http://www.foragingtexas.com/2008/08/black-walnut.html (good photos)
  5. https://www.ruralsprout.com/walnut-leaves
  6. https://www.phillyorchards.org/2018/10/17/plant-spotlight-black-walnut
  7. https://www.gardenbetty.com/homemade-spoon-oil-or-as-i-like-to-call-it-spoon-butta (walnut oil and bees wax finish)
  8. https://www.kentucky.com/entertainment/restaurants/article116382628.html (recipes)
  9. https://foragerchef.com/black-walnut-pesto (recipes)
  10. https://learningandyearning.com/black-walnut-pie (recipes)
  11. http://www.onetomato-twotomato.com/recipe/black-walnut-nocino-liqueur-recipe (pickled walnuts)
  12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickled_walnuts (pickled walnuts)
  13. https://simplybeyondherbs.com/green-walnuts-in-honey-recipe
  14. https://foragerchef.com/green-walnut-honey