They’re like a tart blueberry.
Keep in mind there are at least two fruits called “huckleberry.” I’m referring to the one that grows wild in Cascadia.
Keep in mind there are at least two fruits called “huckleberry.” I’m referring to the one that grows wild in Cascadia.
There are various purple things in Vaccinium, and there’s something red down in the southeastern US in, IIRC, the Solanum family.
My experience has been that Vaccinium membranaceum is better than Vaccinium ovatum. Unfortunately, Vaccinium membranaceum likes to grow in places that are obnoxious to get to, and hasn’t been successfully domesticated.
goes hunting
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huckleberry
Wikipedia lists four, not two:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huckleberry
Huckleberry is a name used in North America for several plants in the family Ericaceae, in two closely related genera: Vaccinium and Gaylussacia.
- Cyrilla racemiflora (known as “he-huckleberry” in the family of Cyrillaceae)
- Solanum scabrum, (known as “garden huckleberry” in the family Solanaceae)
EDIT: Apparently the Solanum huckleberry isn’t red. Oh, well.
Tart u say? K maybe i need to try these. Why do you think blueberries are more popular than huckles if thats true?
Blueberries are sweeter and can be cultivated. Huckleberries grow in wild uneven terrain and so are harvested by hand.
Compare huckleberries to wild blueberries — they’re about as available, and are even about the same size.
Growing up, I always had the goal to pick enough huckleberries for a pie, or possibly a few jars of jam.
Generally after 6 hours or so of picking, I’d had enough of picking, and still only had enough huckleberries for a mixed pie or jam (although they taste great with strawberries and rhubarb).
Compare that to blueberries where commercial berries are grown in straight rows and can be bulk harvested by machine. This makes them much more obtainable.
My favourite though are thimbleberries (broad leafed bush, white flowers) — they’re like a flatter, velvety raspberry. Also only grow wild, but boy do they pack a flavour punch — almost as much as wild strawberries.
The big issue with thimble berries is you blink and they’re on the ground rotting! They’re so good though!
How tart are the thislte ones. Tartness is everything
I don’t find them to have a very strong distinct flavor, they’re kind of small, crisp… unsweet blueberry adjacent?
I prolly wouldnt be interested then. Blieberries are like the red delicious of berries to me. Flat, no tartness or tanginess, get stick in your teeth
