Rowal

Rowan berries — sometimes called rowal — are the small, bright orange-red fruit of the rowan tree (Sorbus aucuparia), a hardy species found across temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and grown ornamentally in cooler parts of Australia. The berries grow in dense clusters and have a distinctly bitter, astringent flavour when raw.

They’re rarely eaten fresh. Instead, they’re most valued as a preserve — rowan jelly is a traditional British and Scandinavian accompaniment to game meats, lamb, and rich poultry dishes. The berries can also be made into syrups, sauces, and fruit wines.

Rowan berries are typically foraged rather than commercially farmed, though some specialty growers cultivate them. In Australia, the trees are found in cooler highland and southern regions where they thrive in the climate.