Bring on the Barberries

– Written by Daniel Bieber | Updated 2024

Wild food forager Paul Tappenden introduced us years ago to a superfood found growing by some of our favorite hiking trails surrounding Rockland County, NY. Barberries are an introduced plant in this area, having escaped captivity and made their home at the edges of our woodlands.

Straight off the bush, the small elongated red berries tend to be rather tart, but they can be quite tasty when they are prepared correctly.  However, I eat them straight off the bush, regardless of their flavor.  They are such a potent superfood, that I don’t mind the flavor.  I rarely pass a bush without helping myself to a few berries.  It is as though I am taking a supplement.

Barberries are remarkably high in antioxidants.  For this reason, they are a good anti-cancer food.  Naturally, they help build the immune system.  During the winter months, they are a good source of Vitamin C, in addition to being clinically proven to be highly effective in clearing up acne.

As we head into winter, barberries come into season.  If I can gather enough of them, I will usually make some Barberry butter, which can be used as a sauce over ice cream or as basting sauce for chicken, duck or fish.  It is also excellent just spread on bread.

Key Nutritional and Phytochemical Properties of Barberry

(According to the Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, 2022)

• Nutritional Content:
  • Rich in minerals like zinc , iron, magnesium, and potassium (526.4 mg/100g).
  • Contains total phenols and total flavonoids, making it a source of antioxidants.
• Phytochemical Composition:
  • The roots and bark are rich in alkaloids like berberine, berbamine, palmatine, and jatrorrhizine.
  • These compounds contribute to various health benefits such as antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, anticancerous, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiarrhoeal, anxiolytic, and hypolipidemic properties.
• Health Implications: High doses of the alkaloid berberine can cause health issues, so consumption should be approached with caution.
• Practical Uses:
  • Barberry berries are consumed as a dessert and used to make wine.
  • The roots are used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, including a preparation called Rasaut, effective for treating skin diseases, jaundice, diarrhea, and more.

I encourage you to do your own research into the world of superfoods, including barberries, as well as come up with your own recipes! And if you live in the NY metro area, we offer summer programming for kids and teens that includes outdoor skills, where campers identify local flora and fauna in addition to many other wonderful program areas. More below!