I am sea buckthorn, and I have watched humans come and go along these coastal dunes for centuries.
My thorny branches protect clusters of bright orange berries that glow like tiny suns against my silvery leaves.
The ancient Greeks named me Hippophae – “shining horse” – believing I made their horses’ coats gleam with health.
Those who know my secrets understand that inside each small fruit lies a treasure trove of nutrients, unlike any other plant.
A single teaspoon of my juice contains enough vitamin C to sustain you daily.
My berries hold over 190 bioactive compounds – nature’s most complex cocktail of health-giving elements.
The wise ones who brave my thorns transform my tart fruits into beautiful foods.
They simmer me into jellies and marmalades that capture summer’s brightness in a jar.
My juice adds tangy depth to salad dressings and brings complexity to fish and meat dishes.
When preserved in honey, I become a powerful tonic. Dried and ground, I add mysterious flavour to grilled meats.
But remember – I don’t give up my gifts easily. My thorns demand respect, and my berries’ intense sourness surprises those expecting sweetness.
Take too many at once, and I can be persuasive in clearing your digestive system.
I offer my bounty from late summer until spring’s first warmth but heed this warning: those carrying new life within them should pass me by, as should mothers nursing their young.
For all others seeking nature’s most potent medicine cabinet, I wait here on the windswept dunes, my orange berries glowing like beacons against the grey sea sky.