How to Ripen Sumac

Sumac, which grows throughout North America and Africa, forms tall, plentiful clusters of small red berries. Popular in a variety of cuisines in the Middle East, various species of edible sumac berries add zing to meat and vegetable dishes as well as summer beverages like lemonade and iced tea. Whether you plan to squeeze, crush or powder sumac berries, allow them to ripen to peak flavor.

Paper bags

Instructions

- 1
  Leave the berries on the plant until late summer.
- 2
  Examine the plants, looking for clusters of deep red or purplish berries. Some clusters may be ready before others.
- 3
  Squeeze a berry. Ripe berries will feel dry and firm yet springy. Unripe berries will feel hard, while overripe berries will feel too soft.
- 4
  Taste one berry. When eaten, berries should have a bright, lemon-like tartness. Unripe berries will taste bitter.
- 5
  Leave unripe clusters of berries on the plant to continue ripening. Berries will continue to ripen through autumn.
- 6
  Cut berry clusters for use before the rainy season. Excessive rainfall on ripening berries will dilute their flavor.
- 7
  Place the berries in sealed paper bags and leave them at room temperature to ripen for a day or two.

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