Sour leaves?????

[warpig3]

When I was a kid we used to holiday by the beach and at times eat things called sour leaves. They were bitter to the taste but still nice. I have been trying to find out what they are but to no avail, any ideas?

God, I hope they weren't dock leaves soaked in cattle pee!!!!!

cheers, warpig

[Brooksy]

Possibly Sea Kale.

[warpig3]

No, not sea kale brooksy, have had that I think. It looks more like a leaf of basil as i recall, very delicate and fine. this was one we picked up off the walk side and ate as we went. I always thought it was sorrel but having checked it out, apparently not.

[coccinelle]

Could it be chickweed?

http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder /Chickweed.html

[puddicat]

Samphire perhaps???

[woozer]

When I was a kid we used to live near the sea and often ate something that I think is Oxalis - it was sour but very moreish - but it looked a bit like large clover leaves so perhaps not the same thing as you.

[puddicat]

We used to have some plant growing in our garden,we used to call them vinegar leaves though we were not by the sea!!!

[Jinglepot]

Warpig, IAP I think has the right answer. Wild sorrel. We ate them too and called them Sour Leeks! They're also known as Sour Licks. I bought some cultivated sorrel from the garden centre and it was like going back in time. Lovely.

[warpig3]

Oh dear, have had a look at the links and think it may be chickweed but am not sure as it didnt grow like th picture, it was more in clumps, heaven knows what it was, have looked in my 'Food for Free' book but still cant identify it, always thought it was wild sorrel but cant recall the flowers and that is throwing me, lord knows what we were eating, still survived though?

Many thanks for all your answers
warpig

[Therema]

Puddi that sounds very like what we used to eat in our drying green when my sis and myself were small lol we knew them as *spelling* sourucks

[Therema]

this looks like what i was talking about it grew in the drying green grass, cant remember flowers tho
http://www.parkseed.com/webapp/wcs/stores/serv let/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10101&catalogI d=10101&langId=-1&mainPage=prod2working&ItemId =1839&PrevMainPage=null&OfferCode=W1H&scChanne l=Top%20Ten%20Main

[warpig3]

A squillion stars for everyone especially IAP and Therema, it is indeed sorrel, Therema's link looks exactly like it. I suppose sorrel / sour leaves could sound kinda similar to a kid.

I must go a hunting for some just to relive my salad days, although I will bring it home and wash it this time!!!!!!

many thanks
warpig