Acorn

Acorns are the nut of the oak tree. All acorns are edible, although most varieties are more suitable for animal consumption than for humans. White oak acorns may be eaten raw; other varieties must be cooked or leached to remove tannic acids. Along with hickory nuts, acorns were a staple food among many Native American tribes, particularly those in what is now northern California. Both nutmeats were used in soups and stews and were ground to form a paste used to thicken the same. The nuts were also dried and ground, then cooked in much the same way as cornmeal mush. The Hupa, Karok, Miwok, Pomo, and Yurok tribes were famous for the large conical baskets that were woven specifically to hold the harvested acorns.