Hawthorn Berry and Thyme Chutney

🫀 A spoonful a day… a heart healthy and versatile chutney (spread/sauce) that pairs well with both the sweet and salty!

This chutney is not only a treat for your taste buds but also a powerful food pairing for your heart health, digestion, and overall well-being.

TCM Benefits:

• Hawthorn Berries (Shan Zha): In TCM, hawthorn berries are renowned for their ability to improve cardiovascular function, reduce cholesterol levels, restlessness, fatigue,and aid digestion. They help invigorate blood, transform blood stasis, calm the shen, and reduce food stagnation, making them excellent for heart health and digestive support.

• Thyme (Bai Li Xiang): Thyme is known for its ability to tonify qi, promote qi circulation, disperse cold, and tonify the spleen and lungs. It also helps resolve phlegm and supports respiratory health. Thyme's warming properties make it beneficial for improving digestion and boosting overall vitality.

• Ground Ginger, Nutmeg, and Cloves: These warming spices are highly valued and used in TCM for their ability to improve digestion, promote circulation, and dispel cold. Ginger (Sheng Jiang) warms the lungs, spleen, and stomach, helping to alleviate nausea and improve digestion. Nutmeg (Rou Dou Kou) warms the spleen and stomach, promotes qi circulation, and helps with diarrhea and abdominal pain. Cloves (Ding Xiang) warm the middle burner, direct qi downward, and alleviate pain, making them great for digestive issues and cold-related discomfort.

TCM Principles:

• Heart Health: Hawthorn berries are considered a "heart herb" in TCM, known for their ability to strengthen the heart muscle, regulate heart rhythm, and improve circulation. Based on research studies, they are also effective in lowering blood pressure and reducing cholesterol levels.

• Digestion: Both hawthorn berries and thyme support digestive health by promoting the smooth flow of qi and reducing food stagnation. This helps alleviate symptoms like bloating, indigestion, and abdominal discomfort.

• Overall Well-Being: The combination of these ingredients provides a warming and tonifying effect, a great mix for many conditions. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of thyme is the cherry on top in this chutney.

---

Hawthorn Berry and Thyme Chutney

INGREDIENTS

• 5 lbs (fresh) hawthorn berries OR 2 lbs (dried) hawthorn berries*

• 4 1/2 cups cider vinegar

• 2 1/2 cups brown sugar (adjust to taste)

• 2 teaspoon ground ginger

• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

• 2 teaspoon sea salt or Himalayan salt

• Black pepper to taste

• 1 small bunch/box of thyme

* If using dried hawthorn berries, soak in warm water for a few hours-overnight

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Prepare the Hawthorn Berries: Rinse the fresh berries or soak the dried berries and place them in a large saucepan.

2. Add Ingredients and Cook: Pour cider vinegar and add salt to the saucepan with the hawthorn berries. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for one hour to allow the berries to release their flavors.

3. Strain the Mixture: After cooking for an hour, strain the mixture through a metal sieve into another saucepan. Use the back of a spoon to press the mixture through the sieve, keeping only the smooth pulp.

4. Prepare the Thyme: Remove the leaves from the thyme sprigs, keeping four whole sprigs aside.

5. Combine and Cook Again: Add spices, sugar, and a generous amount of black pepper to the hawthorn berry pulp in the new saucepan. Cook for 10 minutes, then stir in the thyme leaves one minute before the chutney is done.

6. Jar the Chutney: Strain the thyme leaves out. Carefully pour the hot chutney into sterilized jars, placing a reserved thyme sprig in each jar. Seal the jars tightly and let the most of the chutney mature for at least one month for best taste.

7. Enjoy: Serve the Hawthorn Berry Chutney with your breakfasts, snacks, hot and cold meats, or cheeses.

   photo and recipe inspiration to Wild Foodie