D the Catastrophist
Well-Known Member
So, looking around the fields here at what is in bloom got me thinking-has anyone tried making a wine out of spotted knapweed? I know it is technically classified as an invasive plant, but it is also used to produce star thistle honey here in Michigan and many beekeepers actually oppose its eradication.
I couldn't find any recipes for knapweed, but Jack Keller did have a stinging nettle wine recipe made using the whole nettle head. I think I would probably treat it like a dandelion wine. Harvesting just the purple petals, and using a recipe similar to the one below:
~290 grams petals.
1 gallon water.
Zest and juice of 1 orange.
Zest and juice of 1 lemon.
1 cup strong Earl Grey tea.
2 lb sugar.
Yeast.
Yeast nutrient.
I couldn't find any recipes for knapweed, but Jack Keller did have a stinging nettle wine recipe made using the whole nettle head. I think I would probably treat it like a dandelion wine. Harvesting just the purple petals, and using a recipe similar to the one below:
~290 grams petals.
1 gallon water.
Zest and juice of 1 orange.
Zest and juice of 1 lemon.
1 cup strong Earl Grey tea.
2 lb sugar.
Yeast.
Yeast nutrient.