The haskap, or honeyberry, is a type of edible honeysuckle. They are a dark blue/purple colour and are oblong/rectangular in shape. The flavour is both tart and sweet and is most commonly described as a combination of blueberry and raspberry flavours.
Small shrubs produce small yellow, tubular flowers in early May, with the fruit ready to harvest in late June to early July. It is the first berry to flower in the spring, as well as the first to ripen. Haskaps can be purchased from growers in some regions but are not available commercially in grocery stores across the country. However, you can find products made with haskaps or grow them in your garden or in containers. They are small, well-behaved shrubs that are easy to grow. The plants will begin producing fruit in as little as one year after planting, generating more fruit as it matures. More than one variety of haskap shrub may be required for pollination purposes. Find out more about growing haskaps.
Haskaps are grown across Canada.
Types
Five varieties have been developed through plant breeding programs for Canadian growing conditions: Tundra, Borealis, the Indigo series, Aurora and Honeybee.
- Tundra has firm fruit which makes it an excellent choice for commercial production and heavy handling. It also has excellent flavour and does not bleed when picked, making it an ideal fruit for frozen storage.
- Borealis is the largest and softest haskap berry. Its flavour also makes it the haskap of choice for home gardeners and U-pick operators.
- Indigo Gem is a long-flowering plant, late maturing plant that can cross-pollinate other varieties of haskaps. The berry is able to withstand handling, making it a good selection for homeowners or commercial growers. The flavour of the berry is similar to a plum.
- Aurora is a very productive haskap with large, sweet berries with a little tartness that are easily picked.
- Honeybee is an extremely hardy haskap variety that is slightly tart and has a fleshy texture.
Where to find haskaps
You can pick haskaps at a U-pick or purchase them at farmers’ markets. If you are growing haskaps, you will need to be patient because they will look ripe 1-2 weeks before they are ready. If the berries are green in the centre, they are not ripe; they should be a deep purple red inside when fully mature. All the berries will ripen at the same time; some will fall to the ground and beware as the birds love them. Once harvested, berries will not continue to ripen.
How to Store
Eaten fresh, cooked or prepared, effective storage and preserving is essential to making the most of your crop and enjoying their full flavour all year long.
Refrigerator:
Haskaps will remain fresh in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Freezer:
To freeze, spread the haskaps out on a large tray to freeze individually, then put in the freezer in a sealed bag or container.
Dried:
Put haskaps in a colander and rinse with lemon juice. Spread out evenly on the dehydrator sheet. Set to 48C and dry for a minimum of 6 hours.
How to Prepare
Haskaps can be used like any other berry. They can be picked and eaten fresh, incorporated into baked goods like muffins and pancakes, cakes and pies, or stirred into smoothies and yogurt. They can also be preserved as jams or processed into juice or wine.
Nutrition Facts
Haskaps are high in vitamin C and A, high fibre, potassium. They also contain high levels of antioxidants called anthocyanins, the naturally occurring plant pigments that give fruit and vegetables their deep purple, blue and red colours. Anthocyanins are associated with cognitive and heart health, including improved memory and lower blood pressure.
The History of Haskap Berries
Haskap berries come from a common species of plant found in northern boreal forests in Asia, Europe and North America. They grow mainly in low-lying wet areas or high in mountains, in a variety of soil and growing conditions.
The word “Haskap” is Japanese for “little present at the end of a branch.” For hundreds of years, the haskap berry has been prized in Japan for its health benefits, where it’s called “the berry of long life and good vision.” The first commercial haskap industry was born in Japan in the 1940s.
In the 1950s, Russian scientists, finding that haskap berries were rich in minerals, vitamins and antioxidants, began a breeding program. Around that time, the nutrient-rich berry also made its way to Canada and the United States. The first introduction of the cultivated plant to Canada was at Beaver Lodge, Alberta in the 1950s. Those early versions looked attractive, but the taste of the berries left much to be desired.
In 1998, Dr. Bob Bors, a research scientist at the University of Saskatchewan, began a breeding program that aimed to develop haskaps hardy to the Canadian climate. Starting with four varieties from Oregon State University, Dr. Bors achieved this goal through cross-pollination, while also improving the flavour of the haskap. By 2008, the University of Saskatchewan had the most diverse collection of haskap berry seeds in the world. In a nod to its predecessor, the name “Haskap” was chosen as the brand name for these new varieties.
All varieties grown in Canada today were developed at the University of Saskatchewan.
Canadian crop is available: April – July
Grown in: Canada-wide