We have partnered with award-winning chef Kirk Haworth from the plant-based restaurant Plates London to create the world’s first tree-based menu, celebrating all the amazing flavours trees have to offer.
Our unique and innovative ‘tree-gan’ menu shows just how innovative and creative mother nature allows you to be in the kitchen. As well as everyday staples, there are some pretty unusual and delicious items that come from trees, which we’ve rounded up for you.
Fruit
Perhaps the most obvious of all, trees produce some of the delicious and juicy fruits we all love to eat such as apples, pears, oranges, peaches and cherries! A great source of essential vitamins and minerals, fruits from trees are literally a life-saver, maintaining our gut health and day-to-day energy levels. Our top five edible tree fruits include:
- Bananas
- Avocado
- Lemons
- Coconuts
- Papaya
Nuts and seeds
An essential part of a balanced diet, nuts are very nutrient dense making them the perfect food for promoting heart health, brain function and digestion. Delicious nuts you can eat include:
- Pecan
- Cashew
- Almonds
- Pistachios
- Hazelnuts
Leaves
A more unusual tree component to consider for a culinary concoction, some trees even have edible leaves. For example, birch leaves, oak leaves and willow leaves can be used to make tea. Beech leaves, which have an almost citric taste are also a great addition to summer and mixed salads. Our top three leaves for a calming cuppa are:
- Birch leaves
- Raspberry leaves
- Pine needles
Spice
Some of the most loved and widely used kitchen spices right across the world come from trees, and have been used to give dramatic and exciting flavours to food for centuries. Our top five tree spices are:
- Cinnamon is made from the bark of a cinnamon tree
- Nutmeg is the seed of a nutmeg tree
- Star anise is made from the dried fruit of a star anise tree
- Black pepper is made using the dried fruit of a black pepper vine
- Cloves come from the dried flower buds of a clove tree
Sap
Known as the blood of a tree, interestingly sap is commonly used in kitchens across the globe. Did you know that maple syrup comes from boiled down Maple tree sap? The sap from a Birch tree is also used to make syrup or is sometimes used as a flavouring itself, for example, ‘birch juice’ which is often stocked in health food supermarkets due to the high content of antioxidants.
Flowers
Many trees bloom edible flowers but it’s important to formally identify the tree before consuming anything. Elderflowers, linden flowers and magnolia flowers are commonly used to flavour and infuse drinks. Cherry and apple blossoms are also great in a salad or as a colourful garnish. Flower infusers that pack a punch include:
- Elderflower
- Lime blossom
- Cornflower
- Dahlia
Interested in trying a ‘tree-gan’ menu? Our carefully curated ‘tree-course’ menu, created in collaboration with Plates London, includes delicate avocado and pistachio ice creams, a tree nut roast, smoked banana and cacao mousse, and so many more exciting flavours - all taken from trees!
Tickets available here.
