Kwe Sumacade

Sparkling sumacade with sumac and wild mint. Sweet and refreshing - not too sour - a unique treat whose origin can be credited to indigenous peoples of turtle island. 

Sumac, native to northeastern turtle island / north america, grows abundantly in the territories of the Iroquois peoples (including Mohawk / Kanien'kehá:ka), and Anishinaabe peoples. 

There are many uses for all parts of the plant, but the berries and flowers are used commonly for beverages in particular. 

Why not lemonade?

Citrus originates from China. Various types of citrus had been bred and traded along ’silk road’ routes through the Himalayas, through India, and making their way west via the arab world, which at various points in history would have reached as far as what is now Spain and Portugal.

Citrus arrived in the americas with Christopher Columbus. Local citrus industries emerged, and citrus industries emerged in places like California and Florida in the 1700s, which is where much of the citrus we use here in ‘canada’ comes from to this day. 

It would still take some time for citrus to be widely available and used in places like quebec, which explains why a native plant with many uses would have much longer history of use compared to an introduced commodity. 

Uses of Sumac by indigenous nations in ‘canada'

Staghorn Sumac is native to eastern North America / Turtle Island. 

According to firstnationsfood.org, "The young branches of the shrub were often stripped of bark and consumed. The berries of the fruits are harvested and ground up to create spices; however the most popular use of the fruit was to make both hot and cold beverages by boiling the seeded berries.

Sumac's flavour can be identified as the flavour of lemons with a subtle tang and tartness.”