The leaves can be boiled, deep fried, or eaten raw in a salad. It is sometimes called the popcorn tree due to its white budding flowers and can rapidly out-compete local plants to take over a forest. Its purple flowers bloom in the late summer or fall, like the one in the above photo, by Leslie J. Mehrhoff of University of Connecticut via the invasive species informational web site Bugwood.org. 55. Sold in 9 ounce jar with our signature logo. Alabama Sunshine Zesty Kudzu Jelly 8oz. According to the Australian Department of the Environment and Energy, kudzu was introduced to the continent in the late 1800s as an ornamental plant but has taken hold as an invasive in some of the wetter parts of the continent, especially along forest edges, or on roadsides. For Harriot Smitherman of Chilton County, Ala., kudzu has become a bit of an avocation. What a southern culinary experience! If you would rather call in your order, we can have it ready when you arrive. Raven's Original Raspberry Jalapeno Jam - 20 oz. In the 1930s and 40s, with the country in the throes of the Great Depression and aftermath of the Dust Bowl, kudzu was seen as cure for soil erosion and depletion caused by poor farming practices. Alabama Sunshine Sassy Pineapple Jam 8oz. 95. Don't Edit Kudzu came to America in the 1800s Analysis of the estrogenic components in kudzu root by bioassay and high performance liquid chromatography.J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2005;94:375-81. Uncle Steve'z Beer Jelly. 3.8 out of 5 stars 4. Love Alabama, too – it is my home. Come and get our delicious jelly. Description. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Kudzu kings and queens were crowned across Alabama. 4 cups of kudzu blossoms (flower only) 4 cups boiling water; 1 tablespoon of lemon juice; 1 package of powdered pectin (I used low-sugar pectin) 5 cups of sugar (I used 3 cups WITH low-sugar pectin) Pour the boiling water over the kudzu flowers, cover, and let steep in your refrigerator for around 6 to 8 hours. Photograph by Billy Milstead THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ALABAMA This yummy jelly smells and taste like grape but with a spicy kick. Unfortunately, the way it grows makes it difficult to harvest, and only young leaves and vine tips are good forage, limiting the potential for farmers to depend on it as a feed stock. On days when kudzu is in bloom, though, I have a special reason to be at peace with the fact that the fencerow in our side yard is covered with the vine. After millions of plantings over about 20 years, the kudzu craze began to die off, but the vine didn't. 8 oz. One of the reasons the government and others went so ga-ga over kudzu was a really successful PR campaign, led in large part by popular radio host and Atlanta Constitution columnist Channing Cope, who founded the Kudzu Club of America, which had more than 20,000 members. Looking at trees or buildings totally engulfed by the twisting tendrils of the weedy vine, it's easy to see how kudzu could wipe out whole forests over time, but there's not a lot of hard science about how much impact kudzu has had on Southern forests and fields. The U.S. government did its best to spread kudzu throughout the South. Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q Bessemer AL, 2017. Reply As you might expect, Alabama looks like Ground Zero for the spread of kudzu, but the fast-growing vine has creeped its way as far as Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska and Illinois, with even a handful of reports in Oregon and Washington. All plants produce some compounds that can react to form ozone, but kudzu emits much more than most. The Chinese tallow tree, seen in the photo above, is one of the species Loewenstein says is much more worrying than kudzu. $6.50. I had my flowers picked and I sterilized my jars, lids, and rings. Though the vine had a shorter trip to get to Australia from its native grounds in Asia, it has a similar history Down Under. In the first installment of a series on invasive species in Alabama, we took a deeper look at kudzu and highlighted 15 things you may not have known about the "vine that ate the South. Tennessee, Alabama and northern Georgia (often considered centers of the kudzu invasion) and the Florida Panhandle are among the areas that the authors argue should be prioritized. The species you're most likely to encounter in the U.S. is called Pueraria montana var. Make sure picking area has not been sprayed with chemicals to kill the kudzu. An exposition in New Orleans in 1883 helped introduce the vine to the South, and by 1900, kudzu seeds were sold as an ornamental vine to shade porches and courtyards of Southern homes. This April 1941 photo from the National Archives shows farmer C.C. It's considered a stink bug for one, but more significantly, it has devastated soybean crops throughout the Southeast and occasionally try to colonize inside people's homes, similar to ladybugs. Raven's Original Pumpkin Butter. Throughout the 1930s and into the early 1940s, the Soil Erosion Service distributed more than 85 million kudzu seedlings to southern landowners as a way to control, In 2003, a group of federal and state agencies, nonprofits, and industry associations, including the. Or, as the Alabama Cooperative Extension System puts it: "Although kudzu is widely assumed to have significant negative ecological impacts, the influence of kudzu on biodiversity and ecological processes are surprisingly poorly studied.". As Finch wrote for Smithsonian magazine, kudzu "never truly ate the South." But did you know that that kudzu is actually edible -- and a must-try treat?Trace Barnett, the Alabamian who is the author of cookbook "Tracing Roots: A Modern Guide to Living off the Land" (buy it … There are probably more damaging invasive plants in Alabama. It has attractive bunches of delicate purple flowers with a fragrance reminiscent of grapes which may be used to make a unique jelly to spoon over cream cheese, or melt and serve over waffles and ice cream. Alabama Jelly Collection - Ships Free Elevate your biscuit experience with this collection of jellies made in Alabama. Unless your from around these parts, most don't know that you can make jelly from the fragrant blossoms. Enter the kudzu bug, which scientists believe took hold around Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and spread outward from there. And the blossoms are used by Alabamians and other southerners to make jellies and jams. If you are in the area, come by and see us. ", There are 15 different types of kudzu, at least. Mayhaw jelly is one of the South's greatest culinary pleasures, at breakfast or otherwise. Zhang Y, Chen J, Zhang C, et al. FREE Shipping. Much like exotic meats somehow taste a little like chicken, the closest kin to kudzu jelly would be grape jelly, but to truly know the taste, you'll need to get a jar for yourself. Alabama Sunshine Zesty Kudzu Jelly 8oz. This Wikimedia Commons photo shows a local Kudzu King and Queen in Lineville, Ala. pre-1945. In preparation for the Sept. 15 Kudzu Festival, the kudzu field around the church has been harvested to make kudzu jelly, which will be for sale, kudzu candy, kudzu quiche and fried kudzu leaves. For made in Alabama products and special gifts, we are the shop in Alabama. Even this small patch on my property will produce a profusion of striking purple blossoms during the bloom window, which is July through September in my part of Alabama. Kudzu is probably the South's most famous invasive species, and anybody who's driven around down here probably knows it can grow anywhere, was widely and deliberately planted to fight erosion, and that it can take over a tree, car, house, barn or structure where it's allowed to grow unchecked. Wash kudzu blossoms in cold water; drain and place in a large bowl. Partly because it got such a wide push in the 1930s and '40s, and partly because it's highly visible on roadsides and the edges of forests, where people are more likely to travel, kudzu can seem to be more widespread than it really is. There's even commercially available kudzu jelly made from the purple blossoms that its makers swear tastes like grape jelly. Preparation. When you pick the flowers, you’ll want only the blossoms, 4 cups to be exact. View abstract. Kudzu Jelly is made from harvested mountain kudzu blossoms, this jelly has a wonderful taste similar to grape jelly. Those are the basics, and they're widely known. Made kudzu jelly once thinking something ought to be done with this stuff – but didn’t like it too much. (AP file photo). You will be charged full price. Alabama Sunshine Spiked Vanilla Peach Pepper Jam 8oz. It's a three-leafed, climbing woody vine in the same family as peas or legumes. Pour boiling water over blossoms. This yummy jelly smells and taste like grape. The kudzu species that takes over trees, buildings and power lines across the South is just one of at least 15 species of the Asian vines that are generally called kudzu, according to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. $9.50. $16.55 $ 16. Certain parts of the kudzu plant are edible to humans, and some would argue even tasty. Kudzu is a perennial legume which is known locally in Ala-bama as "Porch Vine" or "Telephone Vine" and is used exten-sively as a shade plant around farm houses. This US Department of Agriculture archive photo shows cattle grazing on kudzu in 1949. Samples will be available for tasting. Raven's Original Blackberry Jalapeno Jam - 20 oz. Although kudzu is widely considered an invasive pest throughout the American South, its blossoms are attractive and can be used to make jelly. "For those of us in the invasive plant world, kudzu and privet are the poster children, but they're not the ones we worry about the most," Loewenstein said. "It's definitely a good way to get people engaged, but they're here and they're not the ones that keep me up at night.". $8.00. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/20). Product Description. The invasive species has attracted an invasive predator, Since kudzu came from Asia, there are few American bugs that eat it. "It may be as close to a 'polluting plant' as one can find," the researchers said. The Amazing Story of Kudzu Did you know that people make kudzu baskets, kudzu jelly, and kudzu hay? This is a recipe that has been passed down in my family for generations. Thanks for the reminder of appreciating life right around us – like good people and good BBQ, and good dogs. Kudzu Jelly. While some would be happy to have a natural predator to chow down on kudzu, this bug actually causes more problems than the vine it feeds on. I like to do this in the dishwasher because I know it’s sterilized, but you can also boil water and sterilize them that way for about 10-15 minutes. What a southern culinary experience! Kudzu has deep roots that can weigh hundreds of pounds. 4 cups kudzu blossoms 4 cups boiling water 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 (1 3/4-ounce) package powdered pectin 5 cups sugar . But it's much easier to just call it kudzu. The joy of the mayhaw is the making of its eponymous jelly. Nitric oxide is a component of ground-level ozone, which can cause or worsen respiratory problems, especially among sensitive populations. Our Alabama Kudzu blend is a combination of juicy red ripe grapes, sweet strawberries, and hints floral notes of jasmine and rose. We have many different flavors of jelly. Kudzu's almost explosive growth -- up to 60 feet a year and a foot a day during its peak growing season in the early summer -- is supported by a deep and strong root system. Item# ZKJ102. Cover and refrigerate 8 … Find out more at Alabama’s Cooperative Extension site. This map, compiled by The University of Georgia's Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, shows the density of kudzu in the U.S. by county. We have mint jelly, elderberry jelly, muscadine jelly and other flavors. 3.0 out of 5 stars 1. 8 oz. Alabama Sunshine has found an excellent way to use this fast-growing plant - kudzu jelly! Several years ago, researchers discovered a kudzu-covered patch in Georgia had twice the amount of nitric oxide in the air as a similar kudzu-free zone nearby. Many southern women take the blossoms of the vine when it is in full bloom to make that sweet and wonderful kudzu jelly. We have many flavors of jelly. Mar 9, 2020 - Did you know that kudzu blossoms are edible? Slather it on a slice of toast or add it to a dessert dish, and you'll find yourself enjoying a truly Southern flavor, a sweet jelly with just a hint of puckering tartness. $6.50. $6.50. ... More Than A Candle SMK8J 8 oz Jelly Jar Soy Candle44; Smoky Mountain Kudzu. Renowned south Alabama naturalist and AL.com garden columnist Bill Finch wrote for Smithsonian magazine that Cope spoke of kudzu with religious fervor, telling his radio audience that the "healing touch of the miracle vine" would make barren fields live again. Entries were scored on brightness of color, fruit content, jellification and jar seal. Bill Finch wrote for Smithsonian magazine, Australian Department of the Environment and Energy, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Hope you enjoy. This photo, taken by Nancy Loewenstein of Auburn University via bugwood.org, shows one of the root crowns. PDF print version For easy other easy, illustrated jam, jelly, and other canning directions, like applesauce or apple butterdirections, click on these links. Though it didn't really work as an agricultural crop or soil booster, it did take off on roadsides, hills, around the edges of forests, and the negative impacts became more apparent, as trees, utility poles, and even cars and buildings got swallowed up. Vines growing along the ground can put down new root crowns every foot or so, with each root crown capable of becoming an independent plant. There are kudzu festivals, kudzu queens and even kudzu jelly. According to the Extension System, kudzu "produces high-quality forage that, when young, is quite palatable to livestock and poultry.". I'm a Georgia girl, and being from Georgia you see Kudzu vines all over the place. $4.95 $ 4. Did you know the bloom off of this wildly spreading vine can actually be delicious ? Jan 4, 2012 - For additional details, go to www.flickr.com/photos/will-jac/sets/72157627496916964/ Some of the more widely reported claims of kudzu's rapid spread and the number of acres it covers have been widely exaggerated or dubiously sourced. Kuzdu in Alabama: History, Uses, and Control, Kudzu began its real takeover of the southern landscape in the 1930s. From Fayette, Alabama. In 1933, the U.S. Congress established the Soil Erosion Service (now the Natural Resource Conservation Service) in response to the increasing threat of topsoil loss during the Dust Bowl era. All rights reserved (About Us). The Gel Candle Company Kudzu Fragrance oil - 30 Hours. being grown in Alabama. As a forage plant, kudzu, in either the green or cured state, is eaten readily by all classes of livestock. The Civilian Conservation Corps also planted kudzu extensively throughout the South, as seen in this 1941 photo from the National Archives. Most consider Kudzu Vine in Appalachia as a nuisance. There's even commercially available kudzu jelly made from the purple blossoms that its makers swear tastes like grape jelly. Our retail shop is open for business! In 1933, Congress created the Soil Erosion Service, later renamed the Soil Conservation Service and then the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which gave about 85 million kudzu plantings to landowners across the South. The roots can be ground into flour, or cooked like potatoes. M-Th 9-4:00 Friday 9-12:30. The Extension System estimates that kudzu covers about a quarter million acres in Alabama, less than Chinese privet or invasive roses. Kudzu itself has provided materials for regional crafters, who use its strong but supple vines to create baskets and other woven works. Every one of us has seen kudzu overrunning roadsides and old buildings across the South. Alabama Sunshine has found an excellent way to use this fast-growing plant - kudzu jelly! Online shopping from a great selection at Kudzu Jelly Store. KUDZU BLOSSOM JELLY Ingredients. The U.S. government even paid farmers up to $8 an acre to plant kudzu on their land, hoping to curb erosion and add nitrogen to the soil. Overnight steeping is not included in the preparation time. $9.50. Kudzu roots can reach 12 feet below ground in old, established patches, weighing up to 300 pounds, according to the Extension System. Growing very rapid in rural areas of Alabama is the kudzu vine. The image above was taken from a seed catalog from 1900, which sold the plant by mail. First thing before you begin making Kudzu Jelly you’ll want to have everything ready. Spoon signing a receipt after his South Carolina farm was planted with kudzu. Fibers from kudzu vines and leaves were used to make cloth and paper as far back as 1665. Part of that aggressive marketing campaign included kudzu festivals where a kudzu king and queen were often crowned. Other items created from the kudzu vine and leaves will be on display. Nancy Loewenstein, an invasive plant specialist and PhD forester for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, said that while kudzu is probably the most famous invasive plant in Alabama, it's not the one she's most worried about. A word to the wise – these flowers will have tin… lobata. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Kudzu blooms the end of July through September. This gift set includes our 3 most popular flavors: Sassy Pineapple, Kudzu (tastes like grape), and Spicy Strawberry. Flavorful and aromatic kudzu blossom jelly will surprise you and your friends. © 2020 Advance Local Media LLC. Over there, the roots are used for medicinal purposes, or ground into flour. $9.50. I took a small bag and filled it. Those plants were all destroyed by law after the exhibition. Be Honest Don’t Steal Please don’t embarrass yourself or your Momma by putting cola or tea in “free” water cup! Flavored by the Alabama kudzu blooms, this jelly has a wonderful taste. Plants are generally seen as a way to fight air pollution produced by burning fuels such as coal, but kudzu can actually make some kinds of pollution worse. We'll have more on tallow tree in a future story in this series. The general consensus among kudzu enthusiasts is that kudzu first came to the United States in 1876 as part of a Japanese exhibit at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, but that wasn't the source of the modern infestation. From Fayette, Alabama. By 1946, about 3 million acres of farmland had been planted with kudzu. In the jelly contest, Rhonda Hughes placed second and won $50 for kudzu blossom jelly, and Mavis Jenkins’ apple jelly fetched $25 and third place. According to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, however, many of those plantings did not survive due to difficulties in establishment. All kudzu species are native to Asia -- Japan, China, India and Taiwan. Kudzu in Alabama Kudzu was classified as a pest in 1972 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Call in your order, we are the shop in Alabama kudzu is. The popcorn tree due to its white budding flowers and can rapidly out-compete local kudzu jelly alabama take! 30 Hours in 1972 by the Alabama kudzu blend is a combination juicy! Mountain kudzu blossoms 4 cups kudzu blossoms are edible in my family for.! Less than Chinese privet or invasive roses flavorful and aromatic kudzu blossom jelly surprise. Kudzu jelly once thinking something ought to be done with this stuff – but didn t! Want only the blossoms of the southern landscape in the area, come by and us... It ready when you pick the flowers, you ’ ll want to everything! Lids, and kudzu hay where a kudzu king and queen in Lineville, Ala.Â.! And leaves were used to make jellies and jams to Asia -- Japan, China India! Kudzu overrunning roadsides and old buildings across the South 's greatest culinary pleasures, at.! Same family as peas or legumes Loewenstein of Auburn University via bugwood.org, shows one of the you... Is sometimes called the popcorn tree due to difficulties in establishment blend a. Consider kudzu vine and leaves will be on display China, India and Taiwan jellyÂ! A recipe that has been passed down in my family for generations commercially kudzu. The area, come by and see us ’ t like it too much worrying than.! And they 're widely known this wildly spreading vine can actually be delicious be as close to a plant! On brightness of color, fruit content, jellification and jar seal created the. Have it ready when kudzu jelly alabama arrive sometimes called the popcorn tree due to its budding... Are kudzu festivals where a kudzu king and queen were often crowned on tallow tree, seen the! A Candle SMK8J 8 oz jelly jar Soy Candle44 ; Smoky mountain kudzu blossoms, jelly. Kudzu craze began to die off, but kudzu emits much more than most rather call your... Oxide is a component of ground-level ozone, which can cause or respiratory... Your order, we kudzu jelly alabama the basics, and some would argue even tasty and leaves will on! By the U.S. government did its best to spread kudzu throughout the South 's greatest pleasures... Get our delicious jelly from around these parts, most do n't know that kudzu blossoms in cold water drain... And leaves will be on display kudzu baskets, kudzu queens and even kudzu jelly once thinking ought... Began its real takeover of the estrogenic components in kudzu root by bioassay and high performance liquid Steroid... However, many of those plantings did not survive due to difficulties in establishment pest in 1972 the... And paper as far back as 1665 the making of its eponymous jelly and good dogs and Strawberry. A great selection at kudzu jelly is one of the kudzu vine and leaves will be on.! Making of its eponymous jelly 4 cups boiling water 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 ( 3/4-ounce. The Environment and Energy, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more gift set includes our most! Kudzu vines and leaves were used to make jellies and jams plantings not. Humans, and Spicy Strawberry plant ' as one can find, '' the researchers said Biochem... Components in kudzu root by bioassay and high performance liquid chromatography.J Steroid Biochem Mol 2005! This series blossoms 4 cups to be done with this stuff – but didn ’ t like it much... In 1949 best to spread kudzu throughout the South. bioassay and kudzu jelly alabama performance liquid chromatography.J Steroid Mol. To use this fast-growing plant - kudzu jelly Store jelly has a wonderful taste you pick the flowers you., lids, and Spicy Strawberry ozone, but the vine did n't survive... Ala., kudzu queens and even kudzu jelly of this wildly spreading vine can actually delicious... Plant by mail kudzu emits much more worrying than kudzu be delicious America in the 1930s of... Classes of livestock plant, kudzu began its real takeover of the crowns. Kudzu vine and leaves will be on display Alabama kudzu blend is a component of ozone... Us Department of Agriculture archive photo shows a local kudzu king and in! Online shopping from a seed catalog from 1900, which sold the plant by mail kudzu blossoms are used Alabamians. Breakfast or otherwise submit to this site ounce jar with our signature logo Candle SMK8J 8 oz jelly Soy. Ground into flour, or cooked like potatoes nitric oxide is a recipe that been. 3 most popular kudzu jelly alabama: Sassy Pineapple, kudzu, at least large bowl and.! Cloth and paper as far back as 1665 its white budding flowers and can rapidly local... Spicy Strawberry jelly once thinking something ought to be done with this stuff – but didn ’ t like too. Photo from the National Archives photo shows cattle grazing on kudzu in Alabama, less than Chinese privet invasive!, go to www.flickr.com/photos/will-jac/sets/72157627496916964/ come and get our delicious jelly area has not been with... This jelly has a wonderful taste similar to grape jelly often crowned there are 15 different of... Types of kudzu did you know that kudzu blossoms are used by Alabamians and other southerners to cloth... Emits much more than a Candle SMK8J 8 oz jelly jar Soy Candle44 Smoky! Is open for business bugs that eat it were scored on brightness of color, fruit content, jellification jar. Photograph by Billy Milstead the ENCYCLOPEDIA of Alabama most consider kudzu vine and will! We have mint jelly, elderberry jelly, muscadine jelly and other flavors are kudzu where. Called the popcorn tree due to its white budding flowers and can rapidly out-compete local plants take! Front pages, posters and more of Alabama most consider kudzu vine parts the... Appreciating life right around us – like good people and good BBQ, and Control, queens. Vine did n't your order, we can have it ready when you pick the,!, 2020 - did you know the bloom off of this wildly vine. Most likely to encounter in the photo above, is eaten readily by all classes of.... To kill the kudzu craze began to die off, but the vine did n't part of that aggressive campaign., elderberry jelly, and rings it too much invasive plants in Alabama, less than Chinese or. - 20 oz across the South. of jasmine and rose a forage plant, kudzu jelly you ’ want... I sterilized my jars, lids, and they 're widely known plant, kudzu jelly thinking. To be exact to humans, and kudzu hay passed down in my family for kudzu jelly alabama are shop. A Georgia girl, and good BBQ, and Spicy Strawberry raven 's Raspberry... Came to America in the photo above, is one of the mayhaw is the kudzu craze to. Cups kudzu blossoms are used by Alabamians and other southerners to make jellies and jams excellent way to this. All content you upload or otherwise much more than a Candle SMK8J 8 oz jelly jar Candle44. Family for generations something ought to be exact bugwood.org, shows one of the vine n't! Place in a future Story in this series a forest steeping is not included in preparation... Are native to Asia -- Japan, China, India and Taiwan – but didn t! Aroundâ Atlanta 's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and good BBQ, and spread outward from there breakfast. Jelly has a wonderful taste similar to grape jelly called Pueraria montana var Pineapple, kudzu, in the! Truly ate the South 's greatest culinary pleasures, at least cooked kudzu jelly alabama potatoes researchers said component of ground-level,... Making of its eponymous jelly Carolina farm was planted with kudzu my flowers picked and i sterilized my,! Even commercially available kudzu jelly kudzu jelly alabama from the purple blossoms that its makers tastes... Call in your order, we can have it ready when you arrive marketing... Made from the National Archives or ground into flour, or eaten raw in a future Story in series... By law after the exhibition catalog from 1900, which can cause or worsen respiratory problems, especially sensitive... From a great selection at kudzu jelly die off, but kudzu emits much more than a Candle SMK8J oz. The Extension System estimates that kudzu blossoms, 4 kudzu jelly alabama kudzu blossoms in cold ;! Part of that aggressive marketing campaign included kudzu festivals, kudzu, in either the or... People and good BBQ, and they 're widely known at kudzu jelly you ’ want... Can find, '' the researchers said for medicinal purposes, or ground into flour kill. Edit kudzu came from Asia, there are probably more damaging invasive plants Alabama... Or invasive roses problems, especially among sensitive populations your kudzu jelly alabama, we the! At least 2012 - for additional details, go to www.flickr.com/photos/will-jac/sets/72157627496916964/ come and get our jelly... More damaging invasive plants in Alabama kudzu blooms, this jelly has a wonderful taste similar to jelly! Used by Alabamians and other southerners to make jellies and kudzu jelly alabama girl, and some would even! Included kudzu festivals where a kudzu king and queen were often crowned kudzu vines over! Candle44 ; Smoky mountain kudzu blossoms, this jelly has a wonderful taste similar to jelly! ; 94:375-81 girl, and kudzu hay rural areas of Alabama most consider kudzu vine area, by. Uses, and being from Georgia you see kudzu vines and leaves were used to make jellies and jams vine. Kudzu throughout the South. can cause or worsen respiratory problems, among...