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I took the kids out walking this afternoon in a country park not too far from where I live and came across these growing on a arge tree. I took some home and heres the photo.

I am hoping that these are edible as there were loads ready to be picked. I think that it may be laurel cherry.

Thanks in advance

I think you are right but I have no idea if they are edible or not. I remember having a tree with them at my old house and the birds went bananas for them and they did make a right old mess when they fell off the tree.

according to wikipedia they are edible! So I have just had them with some sugar syrup, warmed, for my supper. I think they need the extra sugar to sweeten them a bit as they are a little bland. A blog I found suggested that they are sweeter when dried so may try this with the ones that I pick properly on Monday and keep them for winter. Any other suggestions would be welcomed.
Thanks
Elle

I've just read the Wiki entry and hadn't realised that good old laurel hedge is a member of the Prunus family! I thought it was just called cherry laurel because of the fruit. Well you learn something new every day.

Hi,
You are correct, as far as I can tell these sre the leaves and berries of Prunus laurocerasus, (Cherry Laurel) which I would not recommend eating. Most books describe the berries as 'toxic in bulk'! so I would definitely err on the side of caution, the leaves too contain tiny amounts of cyanide so not really a salad addition:p. I'm not trying to scare you, I just felt to warn you.
xxSun&Rainxx
Ellie

For what it's worth,this is a CHERRY laurel,hence Prunus.... Most true Laurel (ie Laurus.........) as far as i know is toxic.

Like bay leaves?

Well,I did say most! and they're pretty astringent..

Have you eaten one? This reminds me, I need to cut some to dry for the winter months for when I'm cooking and want a bay leaf but it's cold, dark and wet outside.....

Don't try using the leaves of the cherry laurel, it's only the fruit that can be eaten (and only then in moderation - as already pointed out, the plant contains hydrogen cyanide and this is at its most concentrated in the fruit stones and the foliage). I do know of the fruits being used to flavour brandy in France (steeped like sloes), but I'd treat them with caution and avoid having too many. Have a look at the link (below*) for the Plants for a Future Database, you'll find it's much more reliable than Wiki for plant edibility info!

* http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?Lat ... urocerasus