The Eastern Redbud tree is a beautiful flowering tree that is native to Eastern North America. In the Spring, the flowers turn a bright reddish-purple that you can easily spot in neighborhoods, along roadways, and among other trees. You may choose to plant a native Eastern Redbud as a part of your landscape for a beautiful addition to your yard and a fun plant to forage its blooms in the Spring. From Redbud Jelly to Redbud Syrup and cakes, you can begin your forage by picking the buds and placing them into a glass jar. Once you’ve gathered your buds, be sure to rinse them with cold water and place them on a towel to dry. You can then store them in your refrigerator for up to 3 days, covered.
You may then sprinkle your red buds on salads, garnish a pasta dish, add to tacos as a topping, decorate a cake or incorporate them into your favorite recipe. The buds are a bit sweet and slightly crunchy with a similar flavor to a pea. Share your recipes and pictures in the comments or by email, we would love to see how you use the beautiful redbuds as part of your dishes.
Happy Foraging!
