Pokeberry wine - a bloody mess!

There was literally blood on my hands - pokeberry blood. This plant, Phytolacca americana, is considered a powerhouse of an herb by many an herbalist. Like most entities of formidable vitality, pokeberry too is a double-edged sword which must be approached with the utmost respect. The root is most potent, but all parts of the plant are potentially poisonous, depending on the method of preparation being employed. That said, with reverence, astute attentiveness, patience and benevolent intentions, you might succeed at harnessing its healing energies for the good of all humankind!!

....Ok, my superhero fantasies aside, I began my relationship with pokeberry, also known as pokeroot, pokeweed, etc., from seeds purchased from a Canadian online herb store. The package arrived and I was psyched as usual. I planted some immediately then hit the books. I learned that it is primarily an herb which benefits the lymphatic system. Lymph is a nearly clear fluid that travels through a body-wide network of vessels, supplying your system with disease fighting cells, including white blood cells. Tied into poke's effects on the lymphatic system is its growing use as an anti-cancer/anti-tumor medicine. The chemical nature of the roots is so strong that it is used to literally burn off superficial tumors. It is also an antiviral and anti-inflammatory with substantiated effectiveness on the immune system, even improving some autoimmune disorders, such as certain forms of arthritis.

Long story short, it's harvest time! I decided to start with the berries, as the ripe ones are the least poisonous part of the plant. I had read accounts of pokeberry wine relieving arthritis and all manner of internal aches and pains, with just a daily tablespoon or two in the morning and evening. But be forewarned! The berries bleed. Even here, however, its "blood" exemplifies the dichotomous nature of this plant, the juice of which offers the most beautiful display of crimson gore I have ever laid eyes on. Simply mesmerizing. But, if you aren't careful, your kitchen may end up resembling the scene of a vicious crime.

As the seeds are poisonous, I squeezed the juice from the berries using a strainer, discarding the seeds, and obtained about 2 cups of juice. I set this aside and in a pot poured 5 cups of water, added 1.5 cups of sugar, 3 slices of ginger, one wedge of lemon, half a cinnamon stick and 5 cloves. I brought this to a boil and let it simmer for 15 minutes. I turned off the fire, removed the ginger, lemon, cinnamon and cloves, strained the remaining liquid and to it added the 2 cups of pokeberry juice. I mixed the contents, sprinkled a quarter packet of brewer's yeast and stirred some more. I put this into an airtight fermentation jar and allowed it to ferment for about 3 weeks, stirring daily until the foaming ceased. I bottled this batch just the other day and will now let it age for about 3 months.

This is as far as I've gotten on this project. But do check back around Valentine's Day for the results of my taste test, and later, self administered medicine trial. Should be filled with lots of drama and suspense!