We have these growing everywhere around our place. It seems to one of the few things that survived the weed-eater effects of the hail we got this week. Russian olive AKA autumn olive is considered invasive in most of the US, with the exception of the Deep South.

I have heard of some people making jelly from the berries, which can be red in color, but the berries from the variety where I live are green, more like olives, and have a dry mealy texture that will suck every drop of moisture out of your mouth.

Even though they aren’t too tasty, the berries have many antioxidants and vitamins that support general health. Studies have shown them to have antimicrobial properties as well as anticancer, relaxant, analgesic, and metal chelation constituents.

Russian/autumn olive is not used in Ayurvedic medicine and is not commonly in western herbalism, but is used extensively in Chinese medicine. The stems, leaves, and berries are used to treat traumatic injury, cough, asthma, pain, muscle aches, weakness, arthritis, indigestion, and itching. To me, this puts the herb strongly in the relaxant catagory.

I enjoy a tea from the leaves that is steeped for quite a while (24-48 hours) in the refrigerator. It has a tannic quality to it but blends nicely with something more moist like marshmallow (Althaea off.), rose (Rosa canina), or hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna). If it is still a little too ‘herby’ or ‘weedy’ tasting, you can throw in a little citrus peel or spice like a bit of cinnamon.

I don’t know of many things better than using a local, unwanted noxious weed that is free for a tasty drink.

After all, free is my favorite price!