Three Jumbo Haskap Berries: Tundra, Indigo Gem and Indigo Treat If you are a dedicated ‘juicer’ – or even just an ordinary ‘fruit snacker’ – you will absolutely flip out over these new introductions. HASKAP is the Japanese name for Lonicera caerulea. It has also been called ‘Blue Honeysuckle’, ‘Honeyberry’, Edible Honeysuckle’ and ‘Sweet Berry Honeysuckle’, suggesting that the berries are sweet. But, in fact, they carry a hint of tartness and the aroma of other fruits, such as black currents, raspberries and blueberries. Several qualities mark them as truly unusual. They have the shape and color of tiny plums and, like them, will hold up for several weeks after harvest. Two of our cultivars, Indigo Gem and Indigo Blue, have the word “indigo” in their names, because this color best describes their attractive hue. In juices, jams and pastries, the indigo transforms into the deepest purple. The third cultivar, Tundra, is a light, powdery blue, similar to the blueberry. The Japanese and Chinese favor theses newcomers for their several health benefits. Lab tests from Canada reveal that they contain vitamins A, B, C, E; and Calcium, Potassium, Iron and Phosphorous as well. Health-conscious Asians, in particular, are consuming these rare fruits increasingly as ‘herbals’. Native to Russia and northern parts of Canada, Haskaps thrive in cold weather; their attractive yellow blossoms open in the still frigid days of earliest spring. With a global shape and a height of 5’ at maturity, they lend themselves to easy handpicking, which begins in mid-summer. By planting a mix of our three cultivars, cross-pollination will promote greater yields and offer a variety of subtle flavors and colors. Zones 3-7