Watch your head. It’s a mast year here in D.C., which means oak trees produce a bumper crop of acorns. But where some might only see an annoyance, artist and educator Shawn Shafner sees reason to celebrate.
He helped organize “Acornucopia!”– a celebration of all things acorns. The festival introduces participants to the many uses of acorns, from natural dyes to flour and even coffee.
Acorns were a staple food source pretty much everywhere that oak trees grow. Native Americans roasted them and turned them into a flour for porridge and breads. In Korea, there is a popular dish called “dotorimuk” or acorn jelly. And Lithuanians made coffee out of them.
Korean dotorimuk. (Jeon Han/Wikimedia Commons)
Acorns must be husked and boiled to get rid of the bitter tannins that make them inedible for humans. But once prepared, the nuts have a sweet taste similar to that of boiled potatoes.
For the last event of Acornucopia! on Nov. 29, Shafner is pairing up with chef Caleb Jang from Magpie and the Tiger for an acorn cooking and tasting demonstration. You’ll be able to try acorn pancakes, jelly, and coffee for yourself.
Another way to participate in Acornucopia! is by collecting acorns to donate between now and Nov. 26. The acorns go to foresters who germinate the seeds into saplings that are then used to support reforestation efforts.
FAQs
Acorns, along with other nuts, are termed mast. Wildlife that consume acorns as an important part of their diets include birds, such as jays, pigeons, some ducks, and several species of woodpeckers. Small mammals that feed on acorns include mice, squirrels and several other rodents.
Who loves acorn? ›
Although the common tree squirrel has a well-known affinity for acorns, it's far from the only species of small mammal to take advantage of the acorn's abundance. Others include fox squirrels, flying squirrels, rabbits, mice, voles, raccoons and opossums.
Do oak trees have acorns every year? ›
It's common for the acorn crop on oak trees to vary from year to year. Most oak species produce a good crop of acorns once every two or three years. However, the white oak tends to produce a good acorn crop once every four to six years. Weather and other factors can affect flowering and fruiting.
Who is the acorn guy? ›
Scrat is a fictional character in the Ice Age franchise. He is a saber-toothed squirrel who is obsessed with collecting acorns, constantly putting his life in danger to obtain and defend them. Scrat's storylines are mostly independent of those of the Herd, though the two do intersect at times.
Can a human being eat acorns? ›
Acorns can be used in a variety of ways. They can be eaten whole, ground up into acorn meal or flour, or made into mush to have their oil extracted. Once you've safely leached the tannins from your raw acorns, you can roast them for 15 to 20 minutes and sprinkle them with salt for a snack.
Are acorns asexual? ›
In order to reproduce, oaks are wind pollinated. Growth of male flowers begins in the spring, they develop in the summer, and produce pollen the following spring. Female flowers develop in late winter or early spring. Acorns, the result of pollination, mature 3 months after fertilization.
What do acorns taste like? ›
Raw acorns are very bitter and gritty and must be processed prior to eating. Acorns that are leached or roasted are nutty and sweet. For some people, the taste of leached acorns is similar to that of boiled potatoes. While many oak species give bitter-tasting acorns, some produce sweeter nuts like European white oaks.
How to make acorns edible? ›
Grind, blitz or chop your shelled acorns into small pieces and cover with cold water. Leave the mixture in a bowl or jar and change the cold water every day. The acorns are fully leached when the bitterness is gone, this usually takes a few days. Dry the mix by straining through a cheesecloth or muslin over a bowl.
Can dogs eat acorns? ›
Acorns contain tannins, a type of chemical that is toxic to dogs. If eaten, acorns can cause upset tummies and, though rare, they can lead to liver and kidney failure and be fatal. It is also possible for them to cause a blockage of the intestines in smaller dogs.
Do squirrels eat acorns? ›
We answer this squirrely question with help from ScienceDaily. This time of year, a squirrel's main diet consists of nuts, seeds and, of course, acorns. If they're not busy consuming the acorns, the tree-climbing critters are busy storing them for their winter food supply.
Piglet's favourite food is acorns (or as the book often spells it, "haycorns").
Why did Native Americans eat acorns? ›
While other traditional foods, such as salmon and abalone, were more restricted to specific regions, Native Americans' reliance on acorns crossed both climatic and cultural lines as the nuts' variety and availability made them part of the daily lives of Indigenous peoples across California.
Did the California tribes eat acorns? ›
In pre-contact times, acorns were eminently suitable as a food resource because of their availability, productivity, storability, and nutritional content. Anthropologist Alfred Kroeber estimated that more than 75 percent of native Californians relied on acorns for food on a daily basis.
What does the acorn symbolize? ›
What do acorns symbolise? Acorns symbolise fertility, growth, fresh starts and potential. The acorn is a small and unassuming seed that holds within it the potential for great growth and prosperity. From the tiny acorn, a mighty oak tree can grow, reaching up towards the sky and spreading its branches far and wide.
