The honey locust is so named because the mature beans pods contain an edible orange goo that tastes similarly to honey and has some of the same applications. Besides being used as a food source by Native Americans for hundreds of years, this pulp can also be fermented into a beer. The inner pod on black locusts, however, is toxic and should not be consumed. Some honey locusts have been known to breed with water locusts and therefore can contain some toxic compounds, but this manifests itself in the form of an added bitterness. So the key is to only eat sweet-tasting honey locusts.
The strongly scented cream colored blooms that emerge on the tree, later turning into characteristic bean pods, are a favorite of bees and make a sweet, delicious honey. Moreover, the buds, flowers, young seed pods, and seeds are all edible raw or cooked in soups and stews. One can also use these edible parts to make an herbal tea. The primary nutritional value of honey locusts are sugar, protein, and minerals. An easy way to use the plant is to cook the tender young pods just like one would green beans. Otherwise, the mature seeds can be ground into a gluten-free, calorie-rich flour. It is also noteworthy that the Native Americans valued this tree for its medicinal applications. For instance, honey locust extracts have been shown to have pharmacological activities in treating rheumatoid arthritis and to have antimutagenic and anticancer properties.
So, try and eat one wild food every day! Just add it to something you are already eating. If you have questions or comments please email [email protected].