What Are Haskap Berries

Haskap Berry is a nutrition-rich superfood that is relatively new to the northern hemisphere, in countries such as the US and Canada. The name Haskap comes from Japan where these berries have been used by the traditional people for a very long time. Haskap in Japanese means berry of longevity and perfect vision and these are the very benefits that made Haskap berries very popular among the Ainu people of Japan. Later these berries were taken by the migrating birds to Russia and so it became a part of the folklore of both these countries.

The botanical name of Haskap Berry is Lonicera caerulea. These are also known by their other names such as Edible Honeysuckle, Honey Berry, Blue Honeysuckle and Sweet Berry Honeysuckle, and Swamp Fly Honeysuckle.

More about Haskap

Haskap berry is edible blue honeysuckle. These berries grow on deciduous leafy bushes that are resistant to extreme temperatures. These bushes can even withstand the cold of the northern hemisphere. The fruit is oval-rectangular in shape that sometimes resembles elongated blueberries. Each Haskap berry contains two twin purple blueberries, wrapped inside a powdery outer purple-blue skin that is deep crimson. The skin is quite thin and melts in the mouth. The color of the skin is because of the powerful antioxidants that give the Haskap fruit its extraordinary medicinal properties.

Haskap berries are delicious and have their own and unique taste, color, and texture. The taste is described as a distinctive blend of tangy and sweet. Though Haskap berries have been around for a very long time, the better tasting fruit is quite new to us. The better taste with all the medicinal benefits makes Haskap berries a preferred choice over other berries.

Growing Haskap Berries

Haskap berry is a marvelous bush that comes with many nutritional benefits, takes a little care, and is very easy to grow. If you are not growing Haskap berries then we can hope that after reading this article you would seriously consider planting Haskap berries as they are valuable to just about any garden.

Haskap berries are rich in antioxidants that are even more nutritious than blueberries. They flower very early which makes them an important source of pollen and nectar and also they ripen very early. They are very easy to grow unlike blueberries which they resemble in taste somewhat but where blueberries are fussy about soil and need very acidic soils, Haskap berries can accommodate a wider range of pH of the soil acidity. Hence, people who want to grow blueberries in their gardens but are unable to grow them because the soils are not acidic enough should consider growing Haskap berries using that soil.

Haskap berry is also a healthy plant. They don't have many pests or disease problems apart from birds, so you might need to take precautions accordingly. Otherwise, they are very easy and require no special care at all. Haskap berries will fruit well even with minimum pruning but if you do want to prune them you can take out the old branches allowing the bush to regrow and renew.

 A lot of good varieties of Haskap berries come from Canada where breeding is done at the University of Saskatchewan. They offer a bigger sized fruit and that stays on the branches longer and ripens slowly, allowing more time to the harvester to keep an eye on the harvest and effectively collect the fruit before it falls off the branches. Of the famous Canadian varieties, one is Indigo gem. This variety has a bigger fruit and bears more fruits per plant.

Nutrient Value of Haskap Berry

Haskap berries are very nutritious. They contain essential vitamins such as Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, and Vitamin B6. It also contains significant amounts of Calcium, Copper, Magnesium, Manganese, Potassium, Sodium, and Zinc. Here's a nutritional value table:

Haskap Berries Are Great For Your Health

Here are some of the benefits of Haskap Berries:

1. They are rich in Antioxidants
2. Good for vision
3. Good for cardiovascular diseases
4. Sometimes used as a method for cancer treatment
5. Great for your brain
6. Produces anti-diabetic effects

Learn more about the top 10 health benefits of haskap berries.

Looking to take advantage of the benefits of Haskap berries but would rather supplement it into your diet? Check out HaskaPower Immunity & HaskaPower Immunity Supplement Plus.

A lot has been talked about Haskap berries in this article. It's safe to say that these berries are a superfood. They are nutritious, healthy, and beneficial. They are packed with nutrients that protect the body from many harmful effects. What makes them unique is that that these berries contain three different types of antioxidants.

We have already talked a lot about antioxidants but it truly is a miracle berry. The free radicals that our cells produce impact different cells differently. Our eyes, brain, heart, neurons, and skin are all prone to damage, decay, and cancers because these radicals are so damaging if not removed from the body. And Haskap berries possess this power to neutralize all types of free radicals. It is a superfood that must be included in our daily diet.