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Sea Buckthorn Berries
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Description/Taste
Sea Buckthorn berries grow in plentiful bunches along the branches of the Hippophae rhamnoides plant. Ripe berries can vary in color from yellow to deep orange or red. The small Sea Buckthorn berry has a thin skin and is very fragile. Within the berry are small inedible seeds, from which oil can be extracted. They are edible when fresh but have an acidic flavor. Sea Buckthorn berries contain malic acid, the same type of acid that gives an apple its tart flavor.
Seasons/Availability
Fresh Sea Buckthorn berries are available in the fall; frozen berries are available year-round.
Current Facts
Sea Buckthorn berries are one of the most widely grown, northern-hardy fruiting plants in the world. The berries grow on a thorny shrub, botanically known as Hippophae rhamnoides, from the Greek word for “shining horse,” after Greeks took note of the shinier coats on the horses that fed on Sea Buckthorn berries and leaves. ‘Rhamnoides’ means “buckthorn-like” because Sea Buckthorn isn’t a true ‘buckthorn’ and belongs to the order Elaeagnaceae. The small edible berries are often called ‘Sea berries’ or Swallow berries for the faint yellow dye they impart on cloth.
Nutritional Value
Sea Buckthorn berries are highly nutritional and have many alternative and natural medicinal uses. The leaves alone contain 15% protein and the berries are rich in vitamins C and E, B1 and B2, folic acid and contain other healthy antioxidants. The oil extracted from the seeds has been used to treat injuries and skin conditions. The versatile berries are higher than both fish and macadamia nuts in Omega 7 fatty acids.
Applications
Sea Buckthorn berries are most often harvested for their juice, which is very acidic on its own but is usually mixed with other ingredients to tone down the tartness. When crushed, pressed or boiled and strained, the juice can be made into jelly, syrups or marinades. Sea Buckthorn syrup is used in cake recipes in Britain, as an additional flavor to soak into various cake layers and is used in a variety of other applications. In the Balkans, Sea Buckthorn juice is incorporated into a fish sauce. In Russia, Buckthorn liquor is considered a top shelf item. The hardy berries can be cooked down and fermented into wine, which takes on an orange hue.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
The Sea Buckthorn berry, specifically the oil that is derived from it, has been valued by ancient cultures in the practice of folk medicine for centuries. Ancient Greeks as well as Tibetan doctors during the Tang dynasty used it to treat coughs, promote blood circulation, aid digestion, and alleviate pain. Sea Buckthorn berries have been used in Ayurvedic medicine as far back as 5,000 BC.
Geography/History
The Sea Buckthorn shrub was said to be the food source for the mythological winged horse, Pegasus, and records show its medicinal use dates back to 800 A.D. Sea Buckthorn can be found growing along coastal regions throughout Europe and Asia, from Norway to Spain and east to the Himalayas and Japan. The thorny bush was brought to Canada in the 1930s from Siberia. Hippophae rhamnoides grows wild in the drier regions of India. Russia and China are the largest growers of Sea Buckthorn and rely on the whole plant for both food and medicine. These delicate berries do not travel well, so they are mostly available in the areas where they are locally grown.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Sea Buckthorn Berries. One
is easiest, three is harder.Recently Shared
People have shared Sea Buckthorn Berries using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
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Базар
Weekend Kazakhfilm foodfare
Vishnevaya str. 34, Almaty, Kazakhstan About 82 days ago, 9/10/22 Sharer's comments : Sea buckthorn berries full of vitamins 
Базар
Kazakhfilm weekend food fair
Kazakhfilm microdistrict , Almaty, Kazakhstan About 117 days ago, 8/06/22 Sharer's comments : Sea buckthorn from Russia 
Kazakhfilm microdistrict, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Kazakhfilm food fair
Kazakhfilm microdistrict, Almaty, Kazakhstan About 347 days ago, 12/19/21 Sharer's comments : Blackthorn from Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan 
Eco fresh market
Микрорайон Казахфильм, 17/1, 050023, Алматы, Казахфильм About 459 days ago, 8/29/21 Sharer's comments : Sea buckthorns from Kygryz Republic |
