General Information
Often confused with the blueberry due to its close resemblance, huckleberries are a wild blue-black berry. Although very similar in taste, the big difference is the seeds within the huckleberry that give it a crunchy texture when fresh and its thicker skin. Huckleberries range from red to blue to dark purple in color, depending on the region they live in. The flavor is a little more tart than blueberries, with an intense flavor.
History
Huckleberries are native to North America, specifically from Wyoming west to Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and up to Alaska. Only found growing in the wild, they have always resisted cultivation and remain a forager’s favorite treasure. They are a main food source for a wide range of animals including deer, birds, rodents, insects most importantly, grizzly bears. Huckleberries provide up to one-third of grizzly bears’ sustenance. The plants prefer partial sun, average to dry conditions, and an acidic soil that is sandy or rocky.
