Is it safe to eat palmetto berries?

Though they were eaten by Native American peoples, the berries are consumed today mainly as a tonic for health. They are believed to contain compounds that can treat urinary tract infections, benign prostate conditions, and male pattern baldness. You can eat the berries raw, or make them into a tincture or tea.

What parts of saw palmetto are edible?

METHOD OF PREPARATION: Fruits raw or dried, heart raw or cooked. Crown end of growing leaf, trail side nibble. The seeds are edible raw or cooked but is an acquired taste.

Can you eat green saw palmetto berries?

The ripe berries are totally edible but have a flavor described as tasting like a strong oily blue cheese followed by an intense peppery blast.

What do you do with palmetto berries?

The extract from ripe saw palmetto berries is often used as a nutritional supplement in the United States and Europe to treat prostate and urinary problems. Harvesters look to make a quick profit by collecting and selling the berries to distributors, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.

How do you make saw palmetto berry tea?

Pour one cup of fresh boiling water over tea, steep 4-6 minutes. The longer the tea steeps, the stronger the flavor.

Why is picking palmetto berries illegal?

The Florida Department of Agriculture classifies saw palmettos as a “commercially exploited plant” and regulates how they are harvested. According to state law, pickers must obtain a permit from the Department of Agriculture and permission from property owners to harvest saw palmetto berries on private property.

How much do saw palmetto berries sell for?

Saw Palmetto harvesting is big business. The price of harvested berries fluctuates between $1.60 and $3.00 per pound in Florida. Numerous companies process the raw berries into powder and sell it for upwards of $38.00 per pound.

What are palmetto berries worth?

Is picking palmetto berries illegal?

Government regulations drive pickers into shadows As a result, saw palmetto berries are illegal to pick on state and federally managed lands in Florida. And as for picking berries on private land, the state initiated a permit application three years ago.