You Can Make Chocolates from the Fruit of Linden Trees!?

[@colonelsmith6018]

to be fair the linden and the cacao tree are distantly related both being in the mallow family (Malvaceae)

[@Sean_Shaun_Shawn]

I tried this out after watching this video about a week ago and I've one important note I actually picked up from an obscure comment in another video: freshly roasted linden fruits taste great but quite subtle and have quite a grassy/floral note. I highly recommend lacto-fermenting them for 4-5 days before you roast them, which brings out fantastic deeper, richer chocolatey notes I'd describe as similar to when coffee is described as "fruity" on the label. I'd also recommend butter (or almond oil if you can get it) which I think work a little better with the nutty chocolate flavours.

[@EeeEee-bm5gx]

how does one go about lacto fermenting?

[@lenhk4049]

Cover in saltbrine (2 % salt) and keep in a closed jar. Open once a day or so though bc the fermentation can make pressure build up in the jar and you don't want it to explode

[@debbiehenri345]

Good lad - for cooking something else at the same time. (It does ruffle my feathers when I see a cookery video showing like one teeny-tiny thing cooking in the oven. Multi-task and save gas, electricity, whatever your cooking fuel!) This is brilliant - a recipe definitely worth putting in my 'save' list. 2 simply huge Linden trees 5 minutes walk down the road - ooh, and another even closer by the bus stop (forgot about that one). They carpet the ground in seeds at the end of Autumn. This year, I'll be digging into that harvest... as soon as the rain stops. Brilliant.

[@yourmum69_420]

what if you don't have anyone else to cook?

[@wendydee3007]

Just WOW!!!

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

😁

[@AlissaSss23]

It's the furst time when i hear of such an unique way of using linden. That is amazing!!!!

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

:)

[@typower9]

Who wouldnt want foraged chocolate! Well done! I have just eaten homemade wholemeal flatbread with cheese and sea beet, wild marjoram, rock samphire, and an organic carrot. On my forage today I ate blackberries and Himalayan balsam seeds. And a couple of leaves of sweet oregano.

[@benjeyemanp1742]

I wondered which tree it was in the carpark outside my work - now I know! Thanks for showing the various uses of what's standing around us, many of which I didn't realise until I found this channel. Thanks again! :)

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

You’re welcome :)

[@chickadeeacres3864]

@@UKWILDCRAFTSLinden is the same as Basswood right?

[@irenediazmartinez3072]

Amazing! I heard about it but they considered it very difficult and they also said that it is difficult to preserve, that is why no industry has done business with it. And you always show us so easily, thank you, always, for everything you share.

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

😁

[@richardlilley6274]

Thank you for sharing... Looks delicious

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

:)

[@Jay0212]

Ahhh I've been trying to identify some trees in our local park for ages and only today noticed the fruit and then I come home and see this video! Thanks!

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

That’s handy :)

[@silviamagda]

That is so cool! I've never heard of this. I know the tree. In my country the flowers are used for tea but that's it. I will try it.

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Yes I love the tea too 😁

[@vgang3605]

That is so cool nature always has some more secrets to learn

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Yep never stop learning :)

[@TheCoach1111]

Nature has endless possibilities

[@LocoOco]

They look amazing them, definitely going to give that a try. Thanks Lewis👍

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Thanks :)

[@bellslinki]

Fantastic! Especially for a chocoholic like me. I'm not aware of any Lime trees in my vicinity but if there are i will definitely now be sniffing them out!

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Check in any parks near you. They’re often planted in parks or village greens etc

[@bellslinki]

@@UKWILDCRAFTS thanks for the heads up

[@tracywinter5839]

Think this is brilliant 👍🏻 I love seeing your recipes and recently made your protein bar…it was so nice!

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

That’s great thanks :)

[@riffhurricane]

That's pretty amazing! If I can find any lime trees nearby will def give this a go.

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

:)

[@sarahwasheree]

That’s great. I guess you can use it just like cocoa and make a chocolate cake 😋

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Yes I think you could. Lots of possibilities I’m thinking of. Hot chocolate etc 😋

[@marcusnadon7061]

Great video as usual mate and I went looking today for the tree which was easy to find but the fruits where unreachable, but I’ll keep trying.

[@emilysmith9099]

Awesome. Think I could argue it’s one of my 5 a day too!

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

😁

[@victoriasmedia2558]

wow what a great channel i waited long time to know number of tree names finally found you. bless you

[@rahma4043]

Who would have thought you can make chocolate from a lime tree? Really cool!!

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

:)

[@Hello_I_Must_Be_Going]

Excellent!

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

:)

[@johnnyboppy9782]

I definitely will be trying this one

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

:)

[@Noingoldmells-holidays]

Just made theses amazingly it did smell like chocolate. I used icing sugar. Just waiting for mine to. Set. Thanks for this

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Icing sugar is probably a better idea, I might try that next time :). How did yours turn out?

[@Noingoldmells-holidays]

I thought it was ok a bit gritty but it smelt like bounty as I used coconut butter. Will definitely do it again.

[@diegomeza7111]

I just found this tree on my way uome and was wondering about it. Watching your videos and I found this one haha thank you! Lovely channel and content btw🎉❤

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Thanks 😊

[@northernwarrior7177]

Wow! This peaked my interest immediately! I have to try this 😆

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

:)

[@aabbushcraft]

Never of thought about it 👍 Fantastic Mate, will have to give that a go

[@irenediazmartinez3072]

I just made them! exactly like you. I couldn't wait for them to freeze so half by the spoonful. My grinder is not good so it was not a very fine powder, but enough for me. Thank you thank you thank you!

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

😁

[@natureisallpowerful]

I never knew,I'm having that one thanks mate. Also the possibilities are good,you could make brownies too. Thanks👍

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Yes for sure. Worth saving some of the powder until the hazelnuts ripen for hazelnut brownies 😋

[@natureisallpowerful]

@@UKWILDCRAFTS I picked my hazelnuts already trying to beat the squirrels. They're ok just ripening them. The Linden seed pods are still really soft up here in north Yorkshire. Thanks

[@The4thDensity]

I've heard of chocolate limes but this is brilliant.

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

😁

[@helenswan705]

Gosh, I mean gosh!! I mean GOSH!!!!! I have never heard of this, I had no idea, I am truly amazed!!!!!! I don't eat sweet stuff but I fancy trying this just for the hell of it. Trouble is I don't have a blender (or Nutribullet as your product placement informs me). I only have a stick blender, or a pestle and mortar.

[@giddyup1to54]

Fab!! ❤

[@dalewalker3942]

Amazing.

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

😁

[@Sandra-mk3gm]

Excellent 😊 sounds good to me

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

😊

[@grzegorzjacek3571]

Thanks mate,Im going do it tomorrow for sure.😗

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

😁

[@stefheartsyou]

Yes Lewis!!!!

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

:)

[@garygranato9164]

he knows everyone likes chocolate, video is a winner :)

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

:)

[@glassbackdiy3949]

facinating, now I want to plant a linden trees as a hedgrow

[@chickadeeacres3864]

I collected seeds yesterday 😉

[@sylvesterkanev2918]

Thank you, again, for the wonderful video, Lewis! I will try this recipe today or tomorrow. Can I use butter (or better ghee) instead of coconut oil?

[@ruthsmith2367]

Let me know how it turns out if you do 😀

[@sylvesterkanev2918]

@@ruthsmith2367 If I use ghee, I will have to first make the ghee :D But I will definitely try this in the next few days. I will let you know.

[@ruthsmith2367]

@@sylvesterkanev2918 Cheers mate 👍

[@AlissaSss23]

​@sylvesterkanev2918 if you consider butter or ghee, why would you go thru the whole process of making ghee? Any health reasons?

[@sylvesterkanev2918]

@@AlissaSss23 there are no health reasons. I just want to use native for my land products. Besides, I think the chocolate would be even tastier with butter/ghee.

[@gigiartstudiowithartistvir3919]

We just planted a linden tree in our front yard.

[@sharonmcanoe]

Omg! Chocolate from a lime tree! Now all you need to do is say if they area low calorie version of chocolate.. And I am off a foraging!! 😊

[@yourmum69_420]

the calories depends on how much sugar you add

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Yeah depends on the sugar really. I expect it would be very bitter without much sugar but you might be able to sweeten it other ways :)

[@AtheistEve]

@@yourmum69_420 And the fat.

[@treeperson2947]

I wonder if you could do something similar with pheasant berries for a substitute for toffee

[@chickadeeacres3864]

I’m going to have to try that! Someone commented on another channel that you had to lacto-ferment first. It’s supposed to increase the chocolate flavour. Ever hear of anything like that?

[@Gleamiarts]

would icing sugar work as well, since it is more fine than caster sugar?

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Yeah I expect so. Definitely worth a try :)

[@emdeejay7432]

The sweet potatoes just casually chilling in the oven hahahaha

[@juliegriffiths4272]

That looks so good. Would you pick from trees near a road, for either flowers or berries?

[@chickadeeacres3864]

Near a road is fine. It’s not a low lying weed exposed to fuel exhaust. There is another video where she also collected a few dried flowers but I doubt they made a difference. Sometimes they stretch the truth to make their content “different “

[@jenann0350]

Simple! I assumed it would be more complicated!! Wheen do you know when they are ready for picking?

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Yes it is really simple. I think they are best when still slightly green, before they go brown

[@jenann0350]

Thanks! think I picked mine too early as very small and soft but will try again

[@LewBearMusic]

Does this have the same soporific affect as the tea from the flowers? Definitely interesting either way, but worth knowing if it's sleepy time chocolate instead of a mild hit of caffeine

[@adiyadiyadi]

Sleepy time chocolate for evening treats sounds very nice 😊

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

I’m not sure to be honest I’ve not found any info on the fruits. I didn’t notice any soporific effects

[@marycorcoran238]

A French lady I knew decades ago said that the flowers remove dark shadows from under the eyes. Drink last thing at night, so many benefits. I love the honey smell of the flowers.

[@typower9]

Did you use the winter linden or summer linden as your source?

[@GodLovesYou5635]

can you also use the dried linden fruit as i picked some in mid october

[@lt4203]

Nice

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

:)

[@dominicharvey6048]

Is this how the company Lindt came up with their name?

[@adiyadiyadi]

From Wikipedia: "The origins of the company date back to 1836, when David Sprüngli-Schwarz (1776-1862) and his son Rudolf Sprüngli-Ammann (1816-1897) bought a small confectionery shop in the old town of Zürich, producing chocolates under the name David Sprüngli & Son [...] In [1899, Rudolf's eldest son Johann Rudolf] acquired the chocolate factory of Rodolphe Lindt (1855-1909) in Bern, and the company changed its name to "Aktiengesellschaft Vereinigte Berner und Zürcher Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli" (United Bern and Zurich Lindt and Sprungli Chocolate Factory Ltd.)" From another website: "Lindt is an Upper German word that means tender or gentle hearted, which is what the surname Lindt is all about. There have been cases in which surname origin has been traced back to a personal name, particularly in Saxony. A similar phonetic name can be found in Alsace, which is descended from the tree Linden." So, possibly indirectly, but it's someone's surname and isn't related to how they made the chocolates.

[@ruthsmith2367]

Wow excellent Lewis. Is it grainy in the mouth, doesn’t matter like I will still try if I find a tree 😀

[@debbiehenri345]

If you're not allergic to nuts, you can always add hazelnuts, blend them, and pretend it's a crunchy praline.

[@ruthsmith2367]

@@debbiehenri345 Ooo good idea Debbie. I could kind of make Ferraro Roches 😀

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Not really grainy no. But I think next time I’d cook it out a bit to melt the sugar into the oil. Lots of possibilities with this. And yes as above definitely with hazelnuts 😋

[@ruthsmith2367]

@@UKWILDCRAFTS great thanks for the tip 👍

[@elisasmith649]

How does this taste with Silver Linden (Tilia tomentosa) seeds (which are near my house but are also tiny, 0.2-0.3” wide)?

[@NatureAndOther]

Very interesting ❤️ 👍

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

:)

[@ArtichokeHunter]

Do you have a sense of how long these would keep? Would you freeze them if you were making them ahead to give as a gift?

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

I guess a week or so. Yes they will be fine to freeze

[@breaksbassbleeps]

Can the powder be used to make hot chocolate drink?

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

I’ve not tried but I was thinking the same. I think it would work

[@adiyadiyadi]

I'm going to try this too but heard anecdotally it won't store as long as cocoa

[@chickadeeacres3864]

@@adiyadiyadifreeze it!

[@jeanblemings5352]

Quite surprising.

[@karenturner8739]

What is the best way to propagate Linden? Cutting? Seed? Likewise Hazel. Also, how fast do they each grow in early years and length of time to full size and maturity? Thx

[@chickadeeacres3864]

Most trees grow one foot per year. Propagate from seed or air layering or cutting. Lots of channels here on propagating trees and shrubs.

[@ASmileAdayful]

I've no idea where to start to look for this tree so decided to see if I could buy one. I've found seeds for a tillia platyphyllos is this the same pls, there are quite a few arnt there😂🤦‍♀️

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Tilia platyphyllos is large leaved lime which is good 👍. The three main linden trees we have in UK are small leaved lime (Tilia cordata), large leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos) and common lime (Tilia × europaea) which is a hybrid of the first two. Before you buy though, do you live in the UK? If so they are very common trees in urban green spaces in the UK. Have a check of town parks, grass roadside verges, village greens etc.

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Also it will take many years to grow from seed to maturity and start fruiting

[@ASmileAdayful]

@@UKWILDCRAFTS oh nuts😂 time I ain't got. I live in sth lincs UK, me n hubby plan a bike ride scouting for em, new to foraging, been at it two weeks, found so far, rosehip, blackberries, mirabelle made jam today😁, bullen, and sloes 👏. In the woods we were trying to guess trees but without help not sure if we were right. Awaiting 3 new books👍. So you recon we should have some in lincs.... Somewhere! Thanks for getting back bless you🙏

[@riddimchef1]

Wondering if this would make a good chocolate drink 🤔

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

I was thinking the same. Maybe with a tiny bit of dried mugwort and some cream

[@riddimchef1]

Got some today so going to try making hot chocolate 👍🏾

[@riddimchef1]

Update, tried it as a drink. I’m not a chocolate drinker so I can’t compare but it was definitely a very pleasant drink and would make it again 👍🏾

[@onemananddog]

Hi I made this and the texture was great but the taste was lacking have you tried rating longer to get more chocolate taste if so did it work?

[@onemananddog]

Roasting not rating

[@boym8123]

Wait 3 ingrediant chocolate.... so dried linden fruits are essentially British cocoa beans???

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

About as close as you can get :)

[@a.l.8001]

this would probably taste better with hazelnut oil

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

Yeah it would taste nice, would probably work as a paste not sure it would set in the fridge though

[@dialmformowgli]

♡

[@johnjoe7683]

Very good. When you say linden tree, do you mean the lime tree? There are many varieties of linden trees 🤷

[@The4thDensity]

Lime tree is what he said.

[@mrcat5992]

never heard of that, sure does look like chocolate, maybe you should see if you can trick somebody with it.

[@annaheya2109]

Can you make a hot chocolate of it? 😋

[@UKWILDCRAFTS]

I expect so, I haven’t tried yet but will do