By September, the hawthorn hedgerows that covered themselves in white blossom in May are heavy with clusters of deep red haws, the small round berries that are among the most medicinally significant wild fruits available to the forager in Northern Europe. The window for the best harvest is roughly mid-September through mid-October, when the berries are fully ripe (deep red, just beginning to soften slightly), before the birds take them.
Identifying and Finding Hawthorn
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna and the closely related Crataegus laevigata) is one of the most common hedgerow and woodland edge trees in Britain and Northern Europe. The berries hang in clusters, each roughly the size of a small cherry, deep red when ripe, with a small persistent calyx at the tip. The thorny branches and the distinctive lobed leaves make identification straightforward for most people. The berries of both species are edible and medicinal.
Harvesting
Harvest by hand or using a small rake, working away from the thorns. Ripe berries should come away from the clusters with gentle pressure. Avoid any berries that are shriveled, moldy, or insect-damaged. A moderate harvest from a well-loaded hedgerow will quickly fill a basket; the trees produce abundantly in a good year.
What to Make
Hawthorn berry decoction or syrup: simmer fresh berries in water until soft and well-colored, strain through cheesecloth (the seeds should not be ground or processed as they contain mildly cyanogenic compounds), combine the liquid with honey for a syrup. Take daily as a cardiovascular tonic.
Hawthorn tincture: pack fresh berries (quartered to increase surface area) into a jar with high-proof spirit, macerate for six to eight weeks. The resulting tincture carries the berries’ full OPC and flavonoid content.
Hawthorn vinegar: macerate fresh berries in raw apple cider vinegar for four to six weeks. Pleasant as a daily tonic in water.
The Herbalist Codex app has the full hawthorn profile with its clinical research, traditional preparation methods, and the cultural and ceremonial history of the May tree. This is one of the great autumn harvests.