This time of the year, it is tempting to use a little holiday greenery to garnish a plate of cookies or to place a sprig of something on top of a cupcake for decoration. This is especial true of holly which is so cheery and symbolic of the winter holidays. You may be tempted, but you should absolutely NOT do this! Read on for the reasons why.
It's common sense kitchen wisdom that one should never garnish food with something that cannot be eaten, either because it is poisonous or because it simply tastes nasty. The idea is to just leave it off the plate and any unfortunate accidents will automatically be avoided. This is especially true if there are children around.
In the case of holly, the berries are mildly toxic and will probably make your guests sick if eaten. While it is rare for them to cause death, you really do not want holly anywhere near your food. The leaves are loaded with caffeine and while they are not necessarily toxic, they are spiny and unpleasant to eat. So leave the holly on the front door or mantlepiece and keep it off the dining room table!
Fun fact: Did you know that the well-known and loved beverage Yerba Mate is made from a spices of holly?
Related: Easy Garnishes for Simple Soups
(Image: Christmas Holly)
How to Make Easy 3-Ingredient Energy Bars at Home
How To Cook Tender, Chewy Wheat Berries on the Stovetop
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Straw Mat from The ...
Must-See Small Cool Homes: Week Two
Beth's Romantic & Retro Residence
Holly is loaded with caffeine? Do tell and how do we extract this stuff safely? I've got a number of these bushes growing in my front yard!
This is nice to point out and all but I think common sense wins over here. I have never heard of anyone in my life try and use poisonous/inedible decor on food. Isn't it ingrained in all our little heads at an early age whats poison? I knew the holly/poinsettia thing since I was a little girl.
Oh, I've got a cookbook or two where the plum pudding and fruit cake are decorated with sprigs of holly... always thought it was a dumb thing to do for this reason.
jmorri26, I actually didn't know this, so I think this post is helpful.
While I certainly have never heard of holly being eaten, and I wouldn't pop it in my mouth without checking first, the fact that it is indeed poisonous wasn't engrained in me from an early age or anything like that. So I say, it doesn't hurt to mention it.
Also, pointsettia's toxicity is an urban legend, according to wikipedia. It's not that the plant doesn't have some mild irritants, but it will not kill you, as previously rumored.
Well, someone watched "Community" last night :)
Community? Please explain!
Ha for poinsettias I meant more the cat/dog thing, not people- it won't kill them but it's toxic enough it'll have them hacking and puking all over your floors all day if they have a poinsettia feast! And don't explain the Community ref- its still on my tivo! lol
I didn't know that poinsettias were harmful until I wrote about them on my blog because I decorated a Christmas party with them. I mean, I'd obviously never eat them haha but I had no idea they were harmful.
my mom has worked for poison control in new england for 20-someodd years & i am always amazed, but people will eat the weirdest stuff!...believe me, just because you know it could be toxic, doesn't mean others do & the reminder is always helpful. thanks dana!
Seriously? It's sharp and pointy? My guests are, thankfully, not idiots.
Sorry, but I don't think anyone's an idiot if they try and eat something that was put on their plate with their food. Generally, it's safe to assume if someone serves you something, it's edible and won't kill you.
Anyone here ever watch Chopped, or any other cooking competition? People are always leaving inedible things on the plate because they "add color" or some such nonsense. I appreciate Dana's reminder that, basically, don't put something on a plate you don't intend your guest to eat.