Can You Eat Blackthorn Berries (Sloes)?

Are sloe berries edible?

Yes. Sloes are the fruit of Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa, and the ripe flesh is edible. They are much more astringent than most familiar garden fruits, so eating several raw sloes is not usually pleasant. Their strong flavour is why they are more commonly used in sloe gin, jellies, jams, syrups and other cooked or infused recipes.

If you are growing a Blackthorn hedge partly for its fruit, a sunny position and less severe clipping generally give the plant more opportunity to flower and form sloes.

What do ripe sloes look like?

Ripe sloes are usually small, rounded fruits that turn deep blue-black and develop a pale, dusty-looking waxy bloom. They ripen in autumn and can remain on the branches into colder weather if birds and other wildlife do not take them first.

Only collect fruit when you are confident that the plant is Blackthorn. The hedge itself is deciduous, densely branched and armed with sharp thorns. In spring it carries masses of small white flowers before or around the time the leaves emerge.

Can you eat sloes straight from the hedge?

You can taste the ripe flesh, but fresh sloes are strongly acidic and astringent. That dry, puckering sensation is normal and is one reason sloes are usually processed rather than eaten like grapes or plums.

The hard stone should not be chewed or crushed. As with other members of the Prunus group, the kernel inside the stone is not a part of the fruit to eat.

Do sloes need a frost before you pick them?

No. Waiting for the first frost is a traditional way of allowing fully ripe sloes to soften, but it is not essential. If the fruit is ripe before a frost arrives, it can be harvested and frozen at home before use. Freezing also helps split and soften the skins for many recipes.

How should you pick sloes safely?

Blackthorn thorns are long and sharp, so wear gloves and long sleeves and pick where you can see what you are reaching through. Avoid pulling heavily on branches, particularly in a young hedge. For more information on flowering, fruiting and pruning, see our Blackthorn hedge care guide.