Honeyberries: The underrated superfruit making waves in health circles

Honeyberries are increasingly found at market stalls. Distinguished by their elongated shape, they resemble the blueberries we know from the forest and the cultivated varieties. These berries are becoming more popular year by year. Jams and juices based on honeyberries are also available and boast numerous health-promoting properties.

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

The plant is easy to cultivate. More and more often, people decide to plant honeyberries in their gardens. They ripen from mid-May and have the most health-promoting properties when consumed raw. These berries are blackish-purple, elongated, and about 1 inch long. They are juicy and have a taste described as sweet and sour, with a subtle hint of bitterness. It's best to add honeyberries to salads, yogurt, 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 have 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 0.22 lbs of these fruits provides nearly a quarter of the daily requirement for these nutrients and meets a quarter of the manganese requirement. These fruits are also recommended for a reduction diet because they are fiber-rich. People with diabetes can consume them as their ingredients regulate tissue sensitivity to insulin and have a low glycemic index.