Welcome to What's That Fruit Wednesdays! Each week, we will focus on a different fruit and provide you with all the information you need to know to get acquainted with our more unique fruit preserve offerings. This week, we are placing the spotlight on the saskatoon berry!
If you've never heard of a saskatoon berry, don't worry - you're not alone. This under appreciated fruit is often overshadowed by its more popular cousin, the blueberry. But what saskatoon berries lack in name recognition, they more than make up for in flavor. These little fruits have a delicate sweetness and a hint of almond flavor that makes them irresistible. Saskatoon berries are also incredibly versatile, and can be used in everything from pies and jams (of course) to salads and smoothies.
Interestingly, saskatoon berries are not actually berries at all - they're actually drupes, which are fruits that have a hard pit in the center (think cherries, plums, and apricots). Saskatoon berries are a type of fruit that resembles a larger blueberry in appearance. They grow on small shrubs and are native to the Canadian Prairies, the Northwest Territories, the Yukon, Alaska, British Columbia and the northwestern and north central United States.
Saskatoon berries have a sweet-tart flavor, and although they are not commonly found in grocery stores, saskatoon berries can be purchased from farmers markets or online retailers if you're not lucky enough to have them growing wild around your neck of the woods.
Maybe you've heard of Juneberries, Shadbush berries or Serviceberries? Well, saskatoon berries are also known by those names. And if you want to get really technical, the saskatoon berry's scientific name is Amelanchier alnifolia, but since there won't be a test later, we can just toss that tidbit into the mental file cabinet next to the Algebra you learned in 8th grade never to be used again...
Since saskatoon berries have such a high levels of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, they are often called a "superfruit". Saskatoon berries are an excellent source of fiber, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. They are also a good source of iron and vitamin C.
So, whether you're looking for a new fruit to try or you're just curious about what saskatoon berries are, we hope this post has been helpful. Be sure to check back next week for another installment of What's That Fruit Wednesdays! In the meantime, why not try our saskatoon berry jam? It's the perfect way to enjoy the flavor of saskatoon berries all year long!
Quick Saskatoon Berry Tart Recipe Using Jam
Ingredients:
- pre-made tart shell
- saskatoon berry jam
- whipped cream or ice cream (optional, but highly recommended)
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place the tart shell on a baking sheet and spread saskatoon berry jam evenly over the bottom. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the jam is bubbly. Remove from oven and let cool. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream, if desired. Enjoy!
Do you have a favorite saskatoon berry recipe? We'd love to hear about it in the comments! And be sure to check back next week for another edition of What's That Fruit Wednesdays.
