Sumac for Summer (Rhus glabra)

It’s hard to believe that it's already August! By now the excitement of the new blossoms of spring and early summer has worn off and the motivation to tend our gardens is fading quickly in the scorching heat! We all need a little motivation and some cooling herbs. All those delicious spring greens are now bolting and bitter due to all this heat. However, they are being replaced with some pretty delicious fruit that is naturally cooling and some herbs that naturally cool the body while providing nourishment and medicine. These would be apples, peaches, watermelon, pears, and many more. How about hibiscus, rosehips, or sumac? They are all naturally cooling but one I’m going to highlight grows wild all down the sides of the road and is overlooked by many. That would be Sumac. We have Winged Sumac and Smooth Sumac growing abundantly in our area. I’m not referring to Poison Sumac which grows differently and has white berries. This plant produces firm, red berries that are covered with tiny hairs or wax. If you pick a berry to suck on, you’ll notice it is very sour due to its malic acid content. Generally any of the plants that taste sour are cooling in nature. Once you’ve tasted the berry and verified that it is sour, it is time to collect them. Simply cut off the whole cluster of berries and store in a paper sack. We can make a delicious, cooling, and refreshing beverage with them. I simply put a few clusters of berries in a gallon container and top it off with hot tap water (not boiled water as that changes the flavor). After about 30 min to several hours, strain through a coffee filter and sweeten with sugar or honey per your preference (or drink it unsweet). The final product will taste very similar to lemonade!
Not only is Sumac delicious and cooling during the hot summer months but it is extremely medicinal. It contains antiviral properties that help to stop viral replication therefore decreasing the life of the virus and its intensity. It also is great kidney support and is one of my favorites for low kidney function. It’s high in vit C, contains anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties as well as being full of nutrients and antioxidants. Wow!! All this and you can find it plentifully all along the sides of the roads and throughout the countryside.
Written by Emily Giles, herbalist and owner of A New Life Herbs, located at 123 W. Market St. on the Somerville square.