Ash tree

Fraxinus excelsior

drink · fermented

A tree of hedgerows and forests whose dried leaves are drunk as tea, or fermented into frênette, a sparkling drink from northern France.

Origin

Northern and eastern France

Where to find it

The leaves are picked in June from pollarded ash trees in hedgerows; frênette is mostly made at home today, with sugar, citric acid and chicory.

Season (United States)

all year round

Preparation

The dried leaves are infused, one tablespoon per cup, ten minutes in barely simmering water; for frênette, they are steeped then fermented for a few weeks with sugar and a starter, in bottles.

Did you know?

In the 19th century, it was drunk in the northern countryside as a homemade small beer.