All kinds of plants serve a variety of functions in or around the human habitat. You may come across plants that divide people.
It might be loved by some for its aroma or beauty, while it may have other physical traits that are a bother to others.
Honeysuckle, a plant that is both loved and hated for its beautiful, fragrant flowers and its ability to grow over vertical surfaces and choke other plants, can be described as a hybrid.
This is for the domestic world. We need to know if we can survive on honeysuckle in wilderness. Is it okay to eat honeysuckle raw?
Certain species of honeysuckle can be eaten raw. There are some honeysuckle species that are slightly poisonous. If you plan to use local species as survival foods, it’s essential to learn about them.
You may not have an opinion on honeysuckle, other than your childhood fond memories of tasting a tiny drop.
Honeysuckle can be found in many parts of the United States, but it is not recommended to eat without caution. The wrong type could cause serious illness.
Below, I will tell you all you need to about using honeysuckle in your survival diet.
You should be aware that some honeysuckle varieties are poisonous
Before we can do anything, let’s address the issue of using honeysuckle to survive.
Honeysuckle is poisonous in many species, but most of them are not.
There have been no known human deaths from the consumption of honeysuckle, its berries, or flowers.
You will get sick if you eat toxic honeysuckle. It is likely to cause serious stomach upset.
It’s not easy to identify, but most of the species have beautiful flowers with a sweet scent and glossy berries that look delicious when hungry.
It’s a trick that both safe and toxic species produce these flowers and berries. You must learn which species to avoid and which to keep safe.
The honeysuckle and fly varieties, for example, are both toxic. However, they produce berries that look delicious.
You can still be sick if you eat the plants without eating the berries, because toxins are present throughout the plant.
The honeysuckle sweetberry, on the other hand, produces sweet and tasty berries.
You can also eat other parts of the plant.
There’s more good news: in most parts of the world, only two or three species of honeysuckle are found.It’s easy to tell which are safe by remembering their distinct characteristics.
Is Honeysuckle Raw Good for You?
Honeysuckle plants are generally grassy or vegetal in taste. Some have even been described as bitter, despite being safe to consume.
The safe varieties can also be used in a similar way to ordinary salad leaves. They can either be eaten raw or boiled and added to a soup or stew, or steeped for use as tea.
Note that the majority of berries on honeysuckle varieties are not very sweet.
Usually, they taste much better than other parts of the plant. However, their flavor tends to be tart.
Sweetberries are a notable exception.
Honeysuckle Nectar is safe to eat?
It is. The nectar from all species of honeysuckle is perfectly safe.
You get very little from any bloom, so it will be difficult to extract anything useful in terms of nutrients.
Honeysuckle flowers are safe to eat?
If they come from a variety that is non-toxic, then yes. Honeysuckle blooms are edible raw and are used in many teas, tinctures and other products.
Honeysuckle Berries: Are they safe to eat?
As long as the honeysuckle variety is non-toxic. Even berries that come from poisonous plants can be mildly toxic. However, you should avoid eating them.
If the berries appear to be safe, you can eat them raw, right from the plant. However, the taste is usually tart.
Some varieties are sweet and delicious, which you will be happy to have. The high sugar content is also great for giving your body a boost.
How long can you survive on honeysuckle cooked?
You can, as long as the species is safe. Honeysuckle plants can be cooked to reduce their overall vitamin and mineral content, as well as kill any bacteria that may have been hiding on the plant.
It is important to note that cooking an species will not destroy the toxins or enough to render it non-toxic. Therefore, it does not make it safe for consumption just because it has been cooked.
Honeysuckle Nutritional Information
Honeysuckle is not grown and harvested to be consumed by humans, so there aren’t many reliable nutrition facts.
These plants are rich in vitamins, minerals, and calories.
This could be sufficient to supplement your diet if you are lacking one or more nutrients. It can also help to fill you up, stave off the hunger, and provide calories that will keep you energized.
Honeysuckle is not a complete food source for humans.
Honeysuckle grows in a variety of places.
The honeysuckle plant is found all over the world, but it’s particularly common in the north hemisphere.
Honeysuckle is found in over 150 different varieties, but the vast majority are located across Europe, North America and Asia.
Invasive species can grow right next to native species. However, invasives tend to be more aggressive than their cousins.
Honeysuckle prefers moderate environments. It does not like it too hot, too cold or too sunny.
If you live or travel in a temperate area, you’re likely to find at least one species of honeysuckle.
It’s also important to remember that many species of these plants are also grown as landscape or garden plants. This is why you can find them growing in both urban and suburban settings.
If you find a honeysuckle sweetberry growing in someone else’s garden in an urban survival situation, this is something to keep in mind.
Honeysuckle: Are there any health concerns?
If you consume any part of a honeysuckle plant that is toxic, the risk will be greatest.
As mentioned, these species usually have mild toxins, and no deaths in humans have been reported.
It won’t be long before you experience severe abdominal pains, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. You may also suffer from headaches and lose coordination.
Take it seriously. Eating too many berries, or parts of the plant, could lead to serious problems, including death.
Consider this as a reminder that you should never eat a plant (including honeysuckle) which has not been positively identified by the manufacturer.
You should also be cautious about eating raw honeysuckle because of the germs.
Food poisoning can be caused by a variety of bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms.
In a society where help is only a few minutes’ walk away, food poisoning may not seem as bad. But in an emergency situation it can be deadly.
If you are already sick, vomiting, diarrhea, and a loss of electrolytes can cause your body to break down. Or, it could prevent you from completing the survival tasks you need to do.
Honeysuckle should be washed as little as possible and lightly cooked if at all possible.