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Linden Fruit Coffee

Linden Nut Coffee is a traditional American recipe for a method of roasting mature linden (common lime) fruit. The full recipe is presented here and I hope you enjoy this classic American dish of Linden Nut Coffee.

prep time

20 minutes

cook time

30 minutes

Total Time:

50 minutes

Additional Time:

(+winnowing)

Makes:

125ml ground

Rating:

Tags : Wild FoodUSA Recipes

It's amazing the uses you can put certain plants to. This recipe requires linden nutlets after they are fully ripe and have fallen from the trees. It will take you several days to collect enough and you will have to be quick before rabbits, squirrels and other animals get them. The resultant grounds are like a cross between chocolate and coffee and make an interesting alternative to coffee as a drink. They can also be used as a chocolate substitute in cakes (if you can get enough)

Ingredients:

500ml (2 cups) Linden fruit (with the stems and flying bracts removed)

Method:

Remove the stalks and 'helicopter' bracts from the nuts and scatter the nuts themselves on a baking tray. Remove any that are infested by insects or have been bored into. Place in an oven pre-heated to about 150°C and roast for about 20 minutes, or until completely dry and a dark brown, like coffee beans. Note that, just like coffee, the darker you roast the linden fruit the stronger and more bitter the flavour will be.

Store in an air-tight jar until needed (the whole nutlets store better than the powder). When ready to drink or use, grind in a coffee grinder (as you would for coffee) and make and infusion in a cafetière. If using in cake making then grind the powder slightly finer than usual and use instead of cocoa or carob powder.