Page 156 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Huckleberry (Black), Gaylussacia

baccata (ERICACEAE)

BLACK HUCKLEBERRY is a deciduous, thicket-forming
shrub that prefers dry, rocky, and acidic soils. They can
grow to 3.3 ft. (1m). Bark on mature plants may range
Jillllybean, CC-BY-SA-2.0
from reddish-brown to grey.
FLOWER AND FRUIT: Bell-shaped five-petaled flowers
bloom in mid-spring, while its purple-black berries rip-
en in August. Fruits are about 0.4 inches (1cm) wide and
have a prominent calyx.
LEAF: 0.8-2 inches (2-5cm) long, oval-shaped leaves
ob R
outledge, C
C-B
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with smooth edges are emerald green with a whitish R Matt Lavin, CC-BY-SA-2.0-3.0 Rob Routledge, CC-BY-3.0
underside and a golden resin on the surface. In autumn, dry them like raisins or pop them in the freezer. En-
foliage turns fiery red. joy them fresh or in jams, pies, and baked goods.
EDIBLE PARTS: berry BROCCOLI HUCKLEBERRY SALAD: Slice up bacon
KEY MEDICINAL USES: It has high levels of vitamin C and cook on a skillet. Set aside to cool. Chop 3-4 light-
and antioxidants. ly steamed broccoli heads and place in a large bowl.
Add 1 cup huckleberries, ½ cup diced red onion, ½
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Harvest as they ripen.
cup sliced almonds and bacon. In a second bowl com-
In the south, prime picking season is in June, while in
bine 1 ½ cup mayonnaise, 5 tbsp. red wine vinegar,
the north, it can begin as late as September. Ideally, your
and 2 tbsp. honey. Drizzle dressing over broccoli sal-
berries should be dark blue or blackish and relatively
ad.
firm. Huckleberries bruise easily, so gather them in a
shallow container. Refrigerate as soon as you get home POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES: Buckthorn, Rhamnus
and eat them within a day or two. Alternatively, you can cathartica

Huckleberry (Bog), Gaylussacia
bigeloviana (ERICACEAE)

BOG HUCKLEBERRY is a low-growing deciduous shrub
that prefers wet, acidic soils and is commonly found in
pine forests and around the edges of bogs, swamps, and
lakes. It can grow to a height of 20 inches (50cm).
FLOWER AND FRUIT: Flowers are delicate nodding bells
borne on velvety stems. Their 5 white petals are tinged
with pink. Each flower 0.3-0.4 inches (0.7-1cm) long,
appearing on the plant between June and July. The black
fleshy fruits are 0.2-0.3 inches (0.5-0.7cm).
LEAF: Measuring 0.8-1.5 inches (2-4cm) long, leaf Josh Fecteau, joshfecteau.com Josh Fecteau, joshfecteau.com
blades are oval-shaped and widest in the middle. The
them within a day or two. Bog huckleberries are en-
upper leaf surface is lustrous and dark green, while the
joyed raw, dried, or cooked. They are good for jams,
lower one is speckled with glossy yellow resin dots. Ma-
baked goods, pies, and syrups.
ture leaves end in a short sharp point.
BOG HUCKLEBERRY SOUP: Whip 1 ⅓ cup cottage
EDIBLE PARTS: fruit
cheese, ¼ cup water, 1tsp. lemon juice until smooth.
KEY MEDICINAL USES: It is high in antioxidants. This will serve as a topping for the soup. Now in a
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Gather bog huckleber- pot combine 2 cups water, 1 cup bog huckleberries,
ries as they ripen to blue-black in late summer. To avoid ½ tsp. grated lemon rind, and a dash of salt. Cook un-
bruising the delicate fruits, place them in a container. til the berries have become soft. Serve cold in bowls
Refrigerate them as soon as you get home and consume with whipped topping.

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