Is mistletoe edible

Answer 1

Mistletoe leaves themselves are edible. I use them in a "sleepy-tea" recipe that also includes valerian and chamomile (about equal amounts of each). I get mine as loose leaves from a reputable health-food store, but they might be available in your area as pre-made tea bags. Personally, I've never seen it sold as anything but loose leaves.

Mistletoe berries are edible when ripe, but they have a sticky, gelatinous pulp that isn't very appealing. This "goop" is essential for mistletoe's continued existence. There are a few types of birds that greedily eat any available berries, then excrete the seeds. If they happen to do this while in a tree's upper branches, chances are good that the seed will stick (thanks to the goopy "glue" around it) to a lower branch. Since mistletoe is a parasitic plant that grows attached to trees, this is the first step to establishing a new plant. So the thick gel that makes the berry unappealing to humans is the very thing that ensures the continued existence of the species.

Answer 2

no