Sloes

Sloes are my autumn favourite. They are the fruit of the blackthorn bush which is regularly found in roadside hedges or in woodland.

Sloes look like plums but are the size of grapes. If you have any trouble identifying one, give it a bite; your mouth will become instantly dry and taste like hairspray.

The suggested use for these is – of course – Sloe Gin. Simply half fill a large jar with sloes, add about half their weight in sugar and then top up with gin. Give it a shake every day for a few weeks to disperse the sugar and remove (and eat!) the sloes after 3 months. The gin will then last for ages – the longer you can leave it the better it will taste.