Wild Foods: Fiddleheads and Glassworts

[SimonBao]

I've read that Finns collect a variety of foods from the wild, e.g., berries and mushrooms. Can anyone tell me if Finns also collect and eat fiddleheads, the young fern fronds that are just emerging from the ground in spring?

And similarly, with Finland's long coastlines, do Finns collect and eat glassworts, also known as sea beans, samphire, salicornia?

[Jukka Aho]

I've read that Finns collect a variety of foods from the wild, e.g., berries and mushrooms. Can anyone tell me if Finns also collect and eat fiddleheads, the young fern fronds that are just emerging from the ground in spring?

Apparently you mean Pteridium aquilinum, known in Finnish as sananjalka (or kuolleenkoura for the young fronds themselves)? Not really. The Finnish Wikipedia article mentions it can be boiled in a water mixed with baking soda and used a bit like asparagus, but I’ve never heard of anyong eating them.

And similarly, with Finland's long coastlines, do Finns collect and eat glassworts, also known as sea beans, samphire, salicornia?

Salicornia europaea, known in Finnish as suolayrtti or punasuolayrtti, is an endangered plant in Finland these days. It has disappeared along with pasturelands for the cattle among the coastal areas. The Finnish Wikipedia article does mention it used to be added to salads back when it was still common.

[SimonBao]

Apparently you mean Pteridium aquilinum, known in Finnish as sananjalka (or kuolleenkoura for the young fronds themselves)? Not really. The Finnish Wikipedia article mentions it can be boiled in a water mixed with baking soda and used a bit like asparagus, but I’ve never heard of anyong eating them.

Thanks again for your reply Jukka. I do mean those fronds, yes. The American Wiki article highlights them as food. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiddlehead The ones gathered in Pennsylvania require no mixing with baking soda, they're just the first veggie of the new spring.

Salicornia europaea, known in Finnish as suolayrtti or punasuolayrtti, is an endangered plant in Finland these days. It has disappeared along with pasturelands for the cattle among the coastal areas. The Finnish Wikipedia article does mention it used to be added to salads back when it was still common.

Yes, it is Salicornia euopaea I'm referring to. Sorry to read it is endangered there now. It's disappeared from vast stretches of the US as well, but is still abundant in protected areas and can be easily collected. It's more commonly known as "Sea Beans" here. Long ago they were collected for use in glass-making, and were eaten locally by folks living in coastal areas, and then they were largely forgotten. A few appearances on menus of celebrity chefs and on TV cooking competitions, and Sea Bans were rediscovered here.