Cactus: opuntie. Raccogliere e consumare i fichi d'India selvatici

Wild prickly pears, also known as opuntias, occupy increasingly large areas in Alpine regions. Global warming benefits these exotic species, often making them invasive. Both the green parts and the fruit are edible. In spring, we can harvest the leaf blades of these cacti and use them in soups and salads, while the small fruits can be used to extract the juice to make syrups, concentrated juice, ice cream, and mustards. The large and small thorns require caution and leather gloves.