Cactus flower wine???

[paubin]

Here in the plains of Wyoming we resently had some big thunder storms.
The rains have put all the prickly pear cactus in bloom. I have heard
of useing the cactus for wine but has anyone ever heard of using the
flowers? The blooms have a nice smell although subtle. If anyone can be
of help on this it would probably be Medpretzel, but maybe someone else
would know also. I havent ever tryed prickly pear wine. The blooms dont
last long so any quick help or answers would be apreciated. I am going
to pick as much as I can and freeze although I think fresh would be
best. I am in the mood to experiment. I think reading all Meds old
posts are rubbing off on me and causing me to see wines in stranger
this than just the super market produce section. Before you know it
I'll be raiding the neighborhood flower gardens.


Edited by: paubin

 

[pkcook]

I found this reference to the barrel cactus: The Echinocactus, or barrel may grow up to 10 feet tall. However, most are quite small. The fruits are fleshy and juicy, but most are considered not edible. One belief that the name barrel comes from the fact that when the cacti is cut open refreshing water will run out to quench the thirst of a desert traveler. However, the quality of the liquid reportedly varies from sour to tasteless. Native Americans boiled the young flowers to eat like cabbage.


Not sure if this helps.

 

[OilnH2O]

Jack Keller's got a couple of recipes on his site -- try this http://winemaking.jackkeller.net/prickly.aspand if you use his search engine, there are several more recipes he's done. Good luck! (We had monster storms here on Tuesday -- they kind that look great against thesky-- must have sent them on your way!)


Here's another link: http://winemaking.jackkeller.net/cactusflower.aspEdited by: OilnH2O

 

[paubin]

pk the type of cactus I was looking at is the "prickly pear". The
prickly pear is edible and I was thinking about the flowers. I was out
yesterday a unfortunatly the flowers are past already. They only last a
day or two once a year. Bummer, the first day I saw them the flowers
had a very sweet smell, although delicate. yesterday there was no smell
on the remaining flowers so as far as flower wine goes I guess I'll
have to wait until next year. I'm concidering using the fruit to make a
wine though. They dont call it prickly pear for nothing though. I must
have a dozen or so spins stuck in my thumb from picking, and that was
with using plyers to pick. OilnH2O, Ya those T-storms were tremendous.
You can keep them next time, LOL



Until next year for the flowers, although I would still like to hear Martina's thoughts on the possible wine!



Pete

 

[grapeman]

If you can get hold of a copy of Winemaker Magazine- June/July 2006, Jack Keller has his Cactus Flower Wine listed on page 26. Also here is a link to that article.


http://winemakermag.com/feature/597.html


Have fun trying it

 

[paubin]

Oh for chriminty sakes. Here I was being all proud of myself thinking that I had come up with a truely original wine and here we go. Jack Keller has already done it. Is there anything left in the world that the man hasn't fermented yet? I was a day late on the flowers anyway. I was really hoping to come up with a flower wine that Martina hadn't tried to make yet or had heard of for that matter.AAARRRRGGGGG.Oh well next year I'll be watching the prickly pears with anticipation.

 

[MedPretzel]