"Haskap berries might just be gaining popularity in North America, but they have long been known by the Ancient Japanese as “the fruit of long life and good eyesight”. Haskap is the name given by the Japanese, which translates “many presents at the end of the branches”.
When fully ripe, the Haskap berry is indigo blue in color, shaped like an elongated blueberry and some describe the flavor to like a Sweet Tart. Most often described as a combination of a blueberry, raspberry and blackberry. The taste varies between varieties."
Haskap makes great wine, spirits/liqueurs, juice, jam, spreads, tarts, chutneys and relishes, ice cream, and yogurt.
Haskap berries are being considered a medicinal “superfood” due to their rich nutritional makeup. The therapeutic benefit is that haskaps are antioxidant rich and have an incredible anti-inflammatory component which is necessary for treating most modern health concerns. Compared to other berries, haskaps are superior in their total antioxidant content, having 3-6x more antioxidant capacity than other fruits or 3x that of a blueberry.
Haskap berries are high in Phenols, Anthocyanins and Bioflavonoids; which are all different types of compounds known as antioxidants. Why is it important that we eat foods high in antioxidants? Antioxidants combat free radicals (bad cells), in our body by binding to them and removing their hydrogen bond. Once this hydrogen bond is removed, these bad cells have the potential to become free radicals themselves, which creates an alkaline or balanced environment in which chronic disease cannot thrive.