Wild About Huckleberries
Huckleberries are a big deal in Big Sky Country, and you’ll find a wide variety of huckleberry products at Yellowstone General Stores. If you’ve had them, you already know what the fuss is about. But some who are new to Yellowstone may wonder, what is a huckleberry?
Found in the northwestern United States and Canada, huckleberries are blue-purple in color and somewhat similar in flavor to a blueberry, with a crunchier texture. They call the mountainous regions of Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington home. Huckleberries are full of antioxidants, high in iron, and a good source of vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese and potassium.
Huckleberries are definitely a thing in Yellowstone country. They’re a go-to fruit for baking and cooking. Huckleberries can be made into some very delectable jam, syrup, barbecue sauce, coffee, tea and more. You can use huckleberries for just about anything, including huckleberry wine and spirits. Since this can’t be sold online, now you have one more reason to visit Yellowstone.
Huckleberries are popular yet rare. That’s because the fruit cannot be grown commercially. The huckleberries used for all these products grow naturally in the wilderness and are picked by hand. Each growing season is unique. With temperature and rain fluctuations, the annual yield of plants can be hit or miss. This makes huckleberries a hot commodity in the Yellowstone region.
These plump berries grow best in the damp, acidic soil found in higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains. They can thrive in even the harshest of conditions. In fact, huckleberries were one of the few plant species to survive the volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980. Somehow, they continued to thrive on the slopes of the volcano.
A staple of local Native American tribes for generations, humans aren’t the only fans of huckleberries. In the wild, huckleberries are consumed by grizzlies, black bears, coyotes and numerous birds. Along with deer, who are pleased that huckleberries provide a food source while helping to draw away the attention of apex predators.
Huckleberry products make fitting souvenirs of your Yellowstone trip. You can take this local treasure home with you to share with your friends and family.
If you’re lucky enough to explore the wilds of Yellowstone, you owe it to yourself to give this tart and delicious fruit a try.
Get a taste of this unique fruit now by viewing our full inventory of genuine huckleberry products.