Honeyberries: The rising superfruit taking over market stalls

Honeyberries are increasingly found at market stalls. Their elongated shape distinguishes them, but they resemble both forest and cultivated blueberries. Their popularity is growing year by year, with jams and juices based on them becoming more readily available. Honeyberries possess numerous health-promoting properties.

Honeyberry is a variety of blue honeysuckle. It originates from northeastern Asia but is now cultivated worldwide. Its properties have been utilised for centuries in the folk medicine of Northern Russia, China, and Japan, where it is referred to as "the elixir of life."

The plant is very easy to cultivate, and people are increasingly choosing to plant it in their gardens. Honeyberries ripen from mid-May and have the most health-promoting properties when raw. They are blackish-purple, elongated in shape, and about 2.5 cm long. They are juicy, with a taste described as sweet and sour, although a subtle bitterness can also be detected. It is best to add them to salads, yoghurt, or oatmeal.

Honeyberries are not related to either forest blueberries or cultivated blueberries. Their taste is entirely different and more tangy, but they are delicious and healthy. They have an impact on lowering cholesterol and blood pressure. They also possess antiviral and antibacterial properties. Like cultivated and forest blueberries, honeyberries are beneficial for eyesight. Thanks to vitamin A, they prevent cataracts and macular degeneration, and because of anthocyanins, they strengthen the retina.

Honeyberries are rich in vitamins, especially K and C. Eating about 100 grams of these fruits provides nearly 1/4 of the daily requirement for these nutrients. It will also meet 1/4 of the manganese requirement. These fruits are also recommended for a reduction diet because they are high in fibre. People with diabetes can also eat them. Their ingredients regulate tissue sensitivity to insulin. They have a low glycemic index.