Rowan berries: A colourful twist for autumn preserves

You can still find red fruits on trees, which children once used to make necklaces and bracelets. Many people think that only animals can eat them, but with the right preparation, they can be turned into delicious jams. Look for them during your walk and bring some home with you.

Rowan berries adorn our gardens in the fall, introducing an intense orange colour. However, it's worth knowing that they're not just a visual treat or a childhood memory but also a healthy delicacy worth inviting into your kitchen. Combined with apples, they become a delicious preserve, perfect for meats, cheeses, or toast.

These inconspicuous red fruits contain a lot of goodness. The vitamins C and A in them boost immunity, carotenoids support eyesight, and tannins have anti-inflammatory effects. No wonder our grandmothers happily used rowan berries to prepare medicinal syrups and liqueurs.

The compounds in rowan berries help lower cholesterol levels and prevent blood clots, reducing the risk of heart disease. Rowan berries also contain flavonoids, carotenoids, and organic acids, which have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and diuretic effects.

One of the tastiest ways to use rowan berries is to make a delicious preserve. It tastes great with meat, cheese, and bread or as a topping for pancakes. It's sweet, tasty, and healthy, so it's worth preparing a few jars. Combined with apples and pears, it tastes like autumn enclosed in the preserve.

Ingredients:

• 900 grams of ripe rowan berries,
• 750 millilitres of sugar,
• 450 grams of apples,
• 450 grams of pears,
• 125 millilitres of water.

Preparation method:

1. Thoroughly sort the rowan berries, removing stems and leaves. If the fruits were picked before frost, consider freezing them for a few days to soften them. After thawing, scald them with boiling water.
2. Wash the apples and pears, peel them, remove the cores, and chop them into small cubes.
3. Place the rowan berries, sugar, and water in a large pot. Cook over medium heat for about 30 minutes, stirring frequently.
4. Then, add the chopped apples and pears. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the fruits soften and the preserve thickens (about 2–3 hours).
5. Transfer the hot preserve into previously sterilized jars and seal tightly. Pasteurize the jars for 15–20 minutes to ensure a longer shelf life.

Adjust the amount of sugar to your taste preferences, as much depends on how sweet the apples and pears you choose are. Enjoy!