Sloe Gin: Made from the Worst Stuff on Earth!

Last Sunday after lunch, my family and I went to pick “porumbele.” When my family told me what we were going to do, I thought that we were going to do something involving corn, because the word for corn is “porumb.” Not the case! We drove to the forest and spent about an hour picking Sloe berries.

I have never encountered a Sloe berry before coming to Moldova (except in the form of Sloe Gin, but I don’t think that counts). I am not a fan! My first encounter was at Ross’s (another ARBD) house in Milestii Mici. My friend Nkosi and I saw a bowl full of Sloe berries in his kitchen. They looked like delicious blueberries and were just sitting there so innocently on the counter. We each tried one. Big mistake!! Their skin is dusty and tastes like chalk and their insides are bitter. Basically, they are like eating bitter chalk, but more disgusting because you expect them to taste like a delicious blueberry. Both of us were actually forced to spit them out. They tasted so bad then we began to wonder if they had been poisonous. We are both still alive, so apparently they are safe to eat.

So last Sunday when my host mom asked my to try another one, I was quite hesitant. I did, however, try a second Sloe berry. It will be my last!

Aside from how gross I find Sloe berries, I did have fun going berry picking. And Sloe berries do have two redeeming qualities: Vodka (which can be made from Sloe berries) and Sloe Gin.

Cheers!