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Horseradish

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 4:33 pm
by cobnuts
I've dug up some horseradish roots- looks like horseradish, smells like hoseradish but before I tuck in, is there anything else it could be?
Being over cautious :wink:

Re: Horseradish

Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 1:05 pm
by Green Aura
If it smells like horseradish and makes you cry like a baby - I say go for it. If it's not pungent enough to make you stream with tears when you strip a bit of skin off then investigate further

Re: Horseradish

Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 11:42 am
by theabsinthefairy
We had a great debate with our neighbours (French farmers) over horseradish - they consider it a root and poisonous - but then they also consider curry leaves, and chillies as work of the devil - and most of them can't recognise what I consider the bare essentials of my herb garden.

But yes - taste - it comes from a big family none of which are deadly but only horseradish actually tastes like horseradish - the rest will be tasteless - but if you were to eat huge amounts they might give you a poorly tummy.

Re: Horseradish

Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 12:36 pm
by Millymollymandy
That's strange as Raifort (horse radish) is for sale in every supermarket!

Re: Horseradish

Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 1:27 pm
by Odsox
Yes .. what Green Aura said .... peel a bit and if it makes you cry, it's horseradish.
100 times worse than the most pungent onion.

Re: Horseradish

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:01 pm
by theabsinthefairy
It's not for sale here - occasionally spotted in a bio shop or an asian supermarket in Clermont.

Re: Horseradish

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:58 pm
by Millymollymandy
Do you mean the root? Cos Raifort in a jar (like horseradish sauce) is a very common french condiment which I have seen everywhere.

Re: Horseradish

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:37 pm
by Ellendra
First, Google "Horseradish" and "poisonous lookalikes" together. Make sure of your plant.

Then, taste a teeny bit, but don't swallow. Like the others said, it should taste like a horseradish. If it doesn't, spit it out, rinse your mouth with water several times, spitting out the water every time. Then drink at least 2 big glasses of water right away.

Most plants aren't poisonous enough to kill with such a small amount, but there are exceptions!!!

Re: Horseradish

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:28 am
by Odsox
Ellendra wrote:First, Google "Horseradish" and "poisonous lookalikes" together. Make sure of your plant.

Then, taste a teeny bit, but don't swallow. Like the others said, it should taste like a horseradish. If it doesn't, spit it out, rinse your mouth with water several times, spitting out the water every time. Then drink at least 2 big glasses of water right away.

Most plants aren't poisonous enough to kill with such a small amount, but there are exceptions!!!
Good Advice for all unknown plants.
But, I'm pretty sure there are no poisonous Horseradish lookalikes in northern Europe, certainly not in the British Isles.
The only other plant it could be mistaken for is the Common Dock, and I don't think that's poisonous.

Anyway as I said before, you don't even have to taste it, just peeling it is enough.

Re: Horseradish

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:11 pm
by cobnuts
Thanks, all. I was pretty sure of what I'd got, just not certain that there wasn't anything similar but dangerous around these parts! Have planted several roots in the garden so will see if they produce the goods for next year.