Strawberries and blueberries get all the attention, but Canada and its neighbours have many more interesting berries to offer. Here are five worth knowing, with notes on taste, where they grow and how to use them in the kitchen.
1. Aronia (chokeberry)
Aronia (Aronia melanocarpa) is a hardy shrub native to eastern North America. Its small, almost black berries are tart and dry, with a flavour between blackcurrant and unsweetened cranberry. Because fresh berries are quite astringent, aronia is usually enjoyed as juice, powder or dried berries. Read more in our complete guide to aronia berries.
2. Elderberry
Elderberries grow in large, flat clusters on elder shrubs. The European species Sambucus nigra and the North American Sambucus canadensis both have tiny dark purple berries with a fruity, slightly earthy taste. Important: elderberries must always be cooked before eating, because raw berries can cause nausea. They are classic in syrups, jams and teas. Try our organic dried elderberries for homemade syrup.
3. Haskap (honeyberry)
Haskap (Lonicera caerulea) is a very cold-hardy shrub from the honeysuckle family, and much of the modern breeding work on it was done in Saskatchewan. The elongated blue berries ripen early in summer, often before strawberries, and taste like a mix of blueberry and raspberry with a tart finish. They are great fresh, in jams, baking and smoothies.
4. Salmonberry
Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) grows wild along the Pacific coast, including British Columbia. The berries look like large raspberries in shades from golden orange to deep red, and they have a mild, juicy taste. They have been gathered by Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest for a very long time and are best eaten fresh, since they are soft and do not keep well.
5. Sea buckthorn
Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a thorny shrub with bright orange berries packed tightly along the branches. It grows in Europe and Asia and is also planted on the Canadian prairies as a windbreak. The berries are very sour, with tropical notes reminiscent of pineapple and passion fruit, and are usually enjoyed as juice, diluted or mixed with sweeter juices. In Canada, try our organic sea buckthorn juice.
Which one to try first?
- You like bold, dry flavours: aronia.
- You want to make syrup or jam: elderberry.
- You like to eat berries fresh: haskap or salmonberry.
- You like sour, tropical tastes: sea buckthorn.
Want more comparisons? Read aronia vs blueberries and aronia vs elderberries.