In the wild, mayhaw berries look very much like cranberries or small crabapples. They vary in taste, but the berries are usually fruity and tart. Most would say they’re far too tart to eat straight from the tree—and that’s where the jelly comes in. The joy of the mayhaw is the making of its eponymous jelly.
What can you do with Mayhaws?
Using Mayhaws The mayhaw fruit is most often used for making jelly; the juice will also make delicious syrup and wine. The pulp is sometimes made into jams, butters and pies. Mayhaw juice or syrup is also used for punches, ice cream topping and to add flavor to sauces for meat, poultry and barbecue.
What is a mayhall?
Mayhaw is the name given to the fruit of the species of Crataegus series Aestivales that are common in wetlands throughout the southern United States. Mayhaws are often collected out of the water from boats, and the fruit is used to make jelly.
Is a mayhaw a crabapple?
What is the Mayhaw? The mayhaw is the fruit of the thorny Hawthorne tree. This small, round reddish fruit is about ½ to ¾ inch in diameter and resembles a crabapple.
How fast do mayhaw trees grow?
Mayhaw trees can be slow to come into good production. Of the better cultivars, six-year-old trees have produced 10 to 20 pounds of fruit per tree per year, and nine-year-old trees have produced 25 to 40 pounds of fruit per tree per year at an orchard spacing of 15 feet in the row by 20 feet between rows.
How long does it take a mayhaw tree to produce fruit?
Harvest the fruit when the tree begins bearing, two to three years after planting. Mayhaw ripens in April or May.
Are mayhaw trees self pollinating?
Pollination Requirements: Superspur Mayhaw Fruit Tree is partially self-fertile. Plant two varieties for cross-pollination and heavier crops.
What are some good things to do with Mayhaw syrup?
Mayhaw syrup is delicious over pancakes, of course, but it also lends itself well over biscuits, muffins, and porridge. Among many old Southern family mayhaw recipes, may even be one for mayhaw wine!
What kind of fruit is a mayhaw fruit?
Mayhaw fruit, botanically known as part of Crataegus aestivalis, C. opaca or C. rufula, are a member of the Rosaceae family and a traditionally foraged fruit of the United States.
What foods can be made with mayhaw jelly?
Mayhaw jelly can be used in fruit pies and pastries or served alongside game meats. Mayhaw syrup makes an excellent topping for desserts such as ice cream, puddings and cakes. They can be used as a topping for breakfast foods as well such as biscuits, muffins, porridge, and pancakes.
What’s the most popular Mayhaw in the south?
Mayhaw syrup is also a Southern favorite. You can make your own jelly and syrup, or you can buy it —a strategy that provides all of the flavor and requires none of the effort. Some Southern towns celebrate mayhaws by hosting spring- and summertime mayhaw festivals.
