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Haskaps: What are they, where to find them and how to use them

Haskaps and Honeyberries

What are they, where to find them and how to use them

Haskaps are similar to, but  not related to blueberries, but they are oblong berries that are blue! They are actually related to honeysuckle,(Lonicera caerulea) and go by other names. Haskaps and honeyberries commonly considered to be the same plant, but while they are related and both are found in the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae) they are divided into different subspecies. But unless you are a scientist, you'll probably never know the difference. .

Taste and description

• They are edible with an unusual sweet and tart flavor, described as a cross between raspberries and blueberries. The flavor is varies, from sour to bland to more sweet and sometimes like huckleberries.
• The berries range in size from less than half a gram to nearly two grams.
• They are shrubs that typically grow to a height of 3 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 m.). The plant produces a 1-inch (2.5 cm.), oblong, blue-colored berry.
• They are said to have a higher level of antioxidants and Vitamin C than blueberries
• Each plant produces 1 lb to 10 lbs of berries annually and the plants live 50 years plus.
• Since they are resistant to both disease and pests, they are ideal for organic gardening

Where are Haskaps grown?

Haskaps are native to cool temperate Northern Hemisphere areas such as Alaska, the northern Midwestern states, Canada, Japan, Russia, and Poland. Of course, they may also be grown in similar climates to which they are not native. They are very cold-hardy and can survive temperatures down to -55 degrees Fahrenheit (-48 C.).

You can get your own haskap plants to grow in your yard here.

Popular Varieties of Haskaps

• Blue Lightning - from Russia, a heavy producer with dark blue berries that are sweet and tart,
• Borealis - considered to be one of the best tasting haskap varieties with large fruit
• Indigo Gem - a smaller, more tart variety, also a very heavy producer, but it is susceptible to powdery mildew.
• Kamchatka - also from Russia, this variety produces large, dark blue fruit in heavy crops.
• Tundra - used in commercial production because the fruit is very firm and the plant is resistant to powdery mildew .

To find farms with Haskaps (also called Honeyberries!) see below:

 

Alaska

• Alaska

Minnesota

• Northwest Minnesota
• Minneapolis area

Missouri

• Southwestern Missouri

Pennsylvania

• Central PA

Canada

Alberta

• Edmonton area of Alberta,

• Search Results

  Web results

  Southwest Alberta

British Columbia

• Okanagan area

Manitoba

• Central Plains

Ontario

• London, Essex, Middlesex, Oxford, Elgin, Norfolk area

Saskatchewan

• Southwest Saskatchewan
• Western Saskatchewan

 

When are Haskaps ripe?

Haskaps are ripe in the early Spring, far ahead of blueberries and Saskatoons.  Keep in mind, the actual ripening dates and even the order can vary considerably from farm to farm, year to year, state to state; so take this as general order!

Other names for Haskaps

• honeyberries
• blue-berried honeysuckle,
• Fly honeysuckle,
• deepblue honeysuckle, and
• sweetberry honeysuckle

Berries that are similar to Haskaps

• Aroniaberries - also callled Chokecherries
• Bilberries - smaller cousins of the blueberry in Europe
• Blaeberry in Scotland and Ireland, smaller, intense flavor; like a bilberry-
• Huckleberries - larger blueberries, a bit less sweet, common to the northern US and Canada
• Saskatoons - Canadians know about Saskatoons. They are native to western Canada and the northwest of the U.S.. They are larger, a bit less sweet; almost identical to a Huckleberry, with a hint of apple.
• Serviceberries - another name for Saskatoons
• Whorlberry or whortleberry  grown in the United Kingdom.  Much like a bilberry.

Haskap Recipes - Cooking and Canning Haskaps

Being similar in many ways to blueberries, most blueberry recipes work well with Haskaps.

• The world's best Blueberry pie, recipe and directions and illustrated!
• Blueberry buckle coffee cake: illustrated directions for this great crumb-topping blueberry coffee cake
• Other easy directions to make blueberry desserts: cobblers, etc.

Canning and freezing Haskaps:

• How to Freeze Blueberries
• How to Can Blueberries
• How to Make Homemade Blueberry Jam
• How to make blueberry jelly
• How to make and can blueberry syrup (it works for strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, too)
• blueberry pie filling to use later,
• blueberry butter