Tag: honey berry

Also known as honey berries, haskaps (or hascaps) are blue-purple berries that look similar to a blueberry or a saskatoon, except for their elongated – oblong shape. They are native to the northern boreal forests of Asia, Europe and North America, though they are recently gaining popularity due to their tolerance for our cold winters.

In North America they are often called honey berries, but don’t let this fool you – they don’t taste like honey. When we first got them, I only knew them by that name, and expected that they must taste like honey – else why the name? Trickery! They are actually an edible member of the honeysuckle family – that’s where the name comes from, and if you’ve ever tasted a honeysuckle berry, you’ll identify slight hints of that taste. Warning: most honeysuckles have poisonous berries, so don’t get any bright ideas about eating them.

In North America the names have become interchangeable. Don’t be confused: HONEY BERRIES and HASKAPS are both referring to the SAME berry.

Dan planted six haskaps in our yard about 15 years ago after reading some compelling information about them. I hadn’t read the same reports, so I wasn’t much interested at the time. He planted them in one of our raised beds because we didn’t have anything else prepared, and they stayed there for a couple of years—until I banished them from my limited vegetable-growing space.

By then they had doubled in size and were attractive plants, but they still hadn’t produced any berries.

The only spot we had available was beside the house on the east side. It was an area that didn’t get much attention—pretty dry and rarely watered. It received the morning sun, but not much past noon. All in all, it was one of the most inhospitable spots in our yard.

However, a couple of years after transplanting them, we noticed dark blue, oblong berries growing on the bushes. The taste was quite tart, but not unpleasant. Unfortunately, the birds noticed them too.

That was the beginning of our love affair.

I am not very patient with plants that are persnickety. I don’t have the time or inclination to fuss over those that don’t want to grow here—those that sulk and pout if they don’t get enough to drink once in a while, or complain about the cold (sissies).

The way to my heart is through strength of character. And after four years of intermittent care in a less-than-desirable location, our haskaps showed their true colours. They appreciated their new home. They had adapted to their surroundings, like true native plants. They didn’t mind the winters, had no apparent health or insect problems, and required no pruning or special care. In short, they proved themselves stronger than whatever opposing forces might threaten them.

They wanted to stay. They loved me, and they wanted to be of service. They found my soft spot. If a food producing plant wants ‘that much’ to be my friend, and if the food they offer is nutritious – I’m all in. You could say I converted to haskap-ism.

Interestingly, the name ‘haskap’ comes from the indigenous Ainu people of northern Japan, roughly translating to “little present on the end of a branch“. You gotta respect that name – it gets right to the point.

The modern name “haskap” translates to “berry of long life and good vision”, also a great name that gets right to the point.

While haskaps have grown wild since time immemorial, they only started being scientifically bred and cultivated in the 1950’s – (appropriately) in Siberia. Since then, Japan and Canada joined the party, and many commercial varieties popular today were developed right here in our own backyard, at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon – improving size and taste. “U of Sask” is renowned for global leadership in water security and agricultural sciences. Go Riders!

Why we should grow Haskaps

1. Haskaps are tremendously hardy, and ideal for cold-climate farming. They are hardy to Zone 2. Edmonton’s climate zone is 4a.
2. They are a ‘bush’, and require two or more plants for pollination.
3. They have early harvest times (starting in June), and you can plant different types to extend the harvest season.
4. They are considered a true SUPER FOOD, being extremely high in antioxidants. They are an excellent source of Vitamins A and C, fiber and potassium. See below for more nutritional information.
5. They have a unique oblong shape with a dark blue skin (like blueberries) and a deep crimson interior.
6. They have a tangy, complex flavour that is hard to describe. I’ve heard it described as a combination of blueberry, raspberry and black currant – I can’t explain it better than that, but I might add the word “pungent”.
7. They are not demanding, need little pruning, and can live up to 50 years. Well suited to an urban garden.
8. They are perfect for eating out of hand, baking with, making jams, syrups and sauces, and for juicing.

Nutrition:

This is where Haskaps rock. They are richer in antioxidants than blueberries — four times more than cultivated blueberries — and contain more vitamin C than many citrus fruits.

You may be familiar with the natural pigments called anthocyanins, which create the gorgeous bright red, purple, and blue colours in fruits, vegetables, and flowers. It won’t surprise you then, to learn that haskaps are especially rich in them. In plants, anthocyanins help provide protection from environmental stressors such as extreme weather and insect attack. Anthocyanins also provide health benefits to the humans eating haskaps – like reduced inflammation and cardiovascular protection.

They are the ultimate superfood, and we don’t have to import them from some tropical climate. They grow right here, in your own backyard!

Eye Health

Haskaps have a higher anthocyanin content, than many other berries, specifically cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G). These compounds act as potent antioxidants that help protect eyes from oxidative damage.
Anthocyanins are associated with enhanced night vision and improved circulation within the retinal capillaries.
Regular consumption is believed to help fight against age-related macular degeneration and to prevent retinopathy in diabetic patients.

In short, Haskaps are doing everything in their power to earn a place in your yard and on your table.

* I am told that haskaps require two different varieties that bloom at the same time for pollination. I am not convinced that we have two or more different varieties among our six bushes. I’m pretty sure we didn’t know that when we bought them all those years ago. It seems information has evolved since then. We will buy a couple more plants this spring, and I will do my best to be certain they are different ‘enough’, while blooming at the same time. Even though our berries are growing fine, I am anxious to benefit even more with this new information.

Growing is an ongoing journey.
I’ll share my progress here so stay tuned, but in the meantime, I’d love to hear your experience with growing or using Haskaps.

Warmly,

Cindy