What’s the Difference Between Huckleberries & Blueberries?

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Compare blueberries to huckleberries based on look, nutrition & more
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Huckleberries and blueberries are both delicious, blue-hued, and rounded berries that grow on a bush—so what even makes them different fruits? Blueberries, the most well-known of the pair, are small and sweet berries with the genus Vaccinium , which grows natively through the Americas. Huckleberries are also small and sweet berries, but they’re from the Ericaceae family, which is native to the Pacific Northwest. But there’s much more to both of these purplish fruits than meets the eye, which is why we’ve assembled this comprehensive (and juicy!) guide to both berries and the similarities and differences between them.

Blueberry vs. Huckleberry: Key Differences

When it comes to taste, blueberries are sweeter and juicier, while huckleberries are slightly tart. Both grow on flowering bushes, but huckleberry flowers are red, while blueberry blooms are light white, pink, or green. Blueberries are also smaller than huckleberries and usually have a lighter blue hue.

Section 1 of 11:

Huckleberry vs. Blueberry: Color & Identification

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  1. Huckleberries and blueberries are often confused because they can be very similar in their blueish hues. However, while blueberries are nearly always deep blue or purple (when ripe), huckleberries can take on such a dark shade of blue or purple that they appear black. Some varieties of huckleberries are even a reddish-purple shade! [1]
  2. Blueberries have an almost perfectly spherical shape, while huckleberries have a slightly oval shape. Both berries are quite small, but huckleberries are slightly smaller on average. Huckleberries have an average diameter of 5–10 millimetres (0.50–1.00 cm), while blueberries range in size from 5–16 millimetres (0.50–1.60 cm) in diameter. [2]
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  3. When you bite into or otherwise open up a blueberry, you’ll likely see the fruit’s pale green or white flesh. [3] Huckleberries, on the other hand, have a medium-to-dark blue or purple color when split open. [4]
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Section 2 of 11:

Huckleberry vs. Blueberry: Flavor & Texture

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  1. Blueberries are almost always sweet when ripe, and they have a notable juiciness to them. Huckleberries, on the other hand, can vary in taste based on the specific variety. Huckleberries with a blue or darker purple shade are generally sweeter (but still not as sweet as your average blueberry), while red huckleberries tend to have a sharper and more sour taste. [5] The taste of huckleberries is often described as a blend between blueberries and raspberries, with a blend of sweet and tangy flavors! [6]
  2. Blueberries are soft on the inside with a large amount of small, soft, and almost unnoticeable seeds. Huckleberries, on the other hand, have a slightly crunchy texture with precisely ten hard seeds on the inside. These seeds generally have a slightly bitter taste. [7] As for the external skin, both berries have a thin-skinned and delicate texture—but blueberries are slightly more delicate and give a “pop” when you first bite into them.
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Section 3 of 11:

Huckleberry vs. Blueberry: Plant Identification

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  1. Despite their similarities, huckleberries and blueberries belong to different genera and follow distinct growth patterns. Blueberries grow in large clusters on their bushes, while huckleberries grow on a bush as separate, isolated fruits. [8] That said, huckleberries can sometimes be seen growing in small clusters, but their bunches will never be as large as the ones in which blueberries grow. [9]
    • A more advanced way to distinguish a huckleberry bush from a blueberry bush is to feel the leaves. Huckleberry leaves have a resin on the underside, while blueberry leaves typically do not. [10]
  2. When a blueberry or huckleberry bush is flowering, it’s fairly easy to distinguish between the two. Huckleberry plants typically have red or pinkish flowers, while blueberry flowers are usually white, pale pink, or light green. Blueberry flowers also have ovaries that are divided into five chambers, while huckleberry flowers have ten chambers in their ovaries. [11]
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Section 4 of 11:

Huckleberry vs. Blueberry: Culinary Uses

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  1. However, it’s important to remember that huckleberries are slightly less sweet than blueberries, so huckleberry-forward recipes might require more sugar or sweetness from another source. Huckleberries and blueberries can both be used in baked goods, jams, jellies, sauces, and syrups. They may be mixed into muffins, pancakes, pies, and smoothies, but you can also eat blueberries or huckleberries raw as a snack or as a topping for cereal, yogurt, or oatmeal. [12]
    • Due to their slightly sour taste, huckleberries work great in recipes that are conducive to tartness, such as huckleberry lemonade, huckleberry sour candy, or huckleberry granitas.
    • The rich flavor of huckleberries is also a good fit for savory dishes, meaning that you could incorporate huckleberries in meat glazes, salad dressings, and other flavorful entrees and sides.
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    Carefully rinse the berries before eating. Blueberries only need a light rinse to remove any dirt or pebbles that may have tagged along after picking. But blueberries can be very delicate, so…I like to put them in a pasta strainer and roll them around gently under cold water, then roll them onto a paper towel to dry.

  2. Blueberries and huckleberries can be substituted for each other easily (although you may want to up the sugar content in a recipe where you’re using huckleberries instead of blueberries). If you have neither blueberries nor huckleberries, choose a fruit that best replicates the flavor, texture, and/or color that you’re trying to achieve with the recipe. Here are some of the best substitutes for either blueberries or huckleberries: [13]
    • Blackberries: Blackberries have a similar texture and taste to blueberries and huckleberries, although they’re slightly largely with a slightly different flavor. Blackberries work best as a substitution in breads, muffins, and smoothies.
    • Strawberries: Strawberries are different in flavor and texture, but they still give off a fruity, sweet, and juicy flavor. They’re also a great source of vitamin C!
    • Cherries: Cherries work as a substitute, but they have a firmer texture and different flavor. Be aware that your recipe will probably have chunks of cherries where the blueberries or huckleberries would’ve blended in smoothly.
    • Currants: Depending on the variety (red, black, or white), currants have a tart and tangy flavor that makes an especially good substitute for huckleberries (not so much for blueberries).
    • Mulberries: Mulberries are usually found in dried form, so they’re best used to replace dried blueberries or huckleberries. Their flavor is unique and mildly sweet, so they make for a subtle and simple substitute.
    • Cranberries: Cranberries are tart and slightly sour, similar to a huckleberry (although huckleberries are typically sweeter). When it comes to blueberry recipes, make sure to add plenty of sweetness back into your food if substituting cranberries for blueberries.
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Section 5 of 11:

Huckleberry vs. Blueberry: Nutrition & Benefits

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  1. Antioxidants are substances that prevent or delay cellular damage caused by free radicals—e.g., air pollution, UV rays, and cigarette smoke. The cellular damage done by free radicals can contribute to a higher risk of heart disease, cancer, and cataracts. [14] According to research, eating a large amount of antioxidants can help to reduce the chance of developing these diseases. [15] Since blueberries and huckleberries have high levels of these disease-fighting antioxidants (including anthocyanin, which gives them their blue color), eating them can help to reduce one’s likelihood of experiencing: [16]
    • Cardiovascular disease
    • Colon cancer
    • Obesity
    • Bacterial infections
    • Diabetes
    • Chronic inflammation
    • Vision problems
    • Blood clots
  2. Both fruits have high levels of iron, potassium, and vitamin C. One cup (150 grams) of blueberries contains 25% of your recommended daily value of vitamin C, as well as 4 grams (0.14 oz) of dietary fiber. [17] One cup (150 grams) of huckleberries, meanwhile, contains roughly 16% of your recommended daily value of vitamin C. [18]
    • For specific nutritional information, 1 cup (grams) of blueberries contains:
      • 1.07 grams (0.038 oz) protein
      • 21.01 grams (0.741 oz) carbohydrate, by difference
      • 82.65 energy (kcal)
      • 3.48 grams (0.123 oz) total dietary fiber
      • 8.7 milligrams (0.00031 oz) calcium
      • 0.41 milligrams (1.4 × 10 −5  oz) iron
      • 8.7 milligrams (0.00031 oz) magnesium
      • 111.65 milligrams (0.003938 oz) potassium
      • 0.23 milligrams (8.1 × 10 −6  oz) zinc
      • 78.3 milligrams (0.00276 oz) vitamin A
      • 14.06 milligrams (0.000496 oz) vitamin C
    • For specific nutritional information, 1 cup (grams) of huckleberries contains:
      • 1.1 grams (0.039 oz) protein
      • 21 grams (0.74 oz) carbohydrate, by difference
      • 3.6 grams (0.13 oz) total dietary fiber
      • 8.9 milligrams (0.00031 oz) calcium
      • 0.4 milligrams (1.4 × 10 −5  oz) iron
      • 114 milligrams (0.0040 oz) potassium
      • 0.4 milligrams (1.4 × 10 −5  oz) calcium
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Section 6 of 11:

Huckleberry vs. Blueberry: Where They Grow

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  1. Specifically, huckleberries are usually found in states like Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho. They particularly thrive in areas of the northern Rocky Mountains. Huckleberry picking is a common hobby in these regions, especially as huckleberries are not typically sold in stores as they’re resistant to farming—they truly do best in the wild. [19]
    • Outside of the Pacific Northwest, it’s fairly difficult to find huckleberries. As we already know, they don’t like to be cultivated or grown in a garden or farm, and they need a northern climate with altitudes of over 2,000 feet (610 m) in order to thrive.
    • In their native region, huckleberries have been honored as Idaho’s state fruit and with an annual huckleberry festival in Trout Creek, MT. The huckleberry is also celebrated with an annual multi-day festival in Jay, Oklahoma, which is the Huckleberry Capital of the World. [20]
  2. However, they are native to North America, particularly in coastal regions as well as Texas, Minnesota, and Michigan. Blueberries can be found growing wild, but they’re also easy to grow on a farm, in a backyard, or in a pot on your porch. You can also easily find blueberries at your local grocery store or farmer’s market. [21]
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Section 7 of 11:

Huckleberry vs. Blueberry: Varieties

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  1. Blueberries are one of the most popular and beloved fruits around, particularly in their native North America. While there are more than 150 types of blueberry bushes (and fruits), we’ll dive into five particularly notable varieties: [22]
    • Biloxi Blueberries: Grown and hand-picked in warm, southern regions. Delicate skin with a plump feel and a sweet and juicy taste.
    • Chandler Blueberries: Large berries that must be hand-picked, making them a favorite for U-Pick farms but more expensive in stores and markets. [23]
    • Patriot Blueberries: Huge, self-pollinating berries that are disease- and cold-resistant. [24]
    • Alaskan Blueberries: Hybrid between blueberries and huckleberries, creating a juicy and tart taste.
    • Duke Blueberries: Quick-ripening berries with a firm feel, white flowers, and disease-resistant quality.
  2. Huckleberries are resistant to transplantation, cultivation, and hybridization, meaning that it’s difficult for them to be grown outside of their native area (which is mostly within the Northwest United States). Despite the fact that there aren’t nearly as many huckleberry varieties as there are blueberry varieties, here are a few of the most notable:
    • Big Huckleberries: Pale yellowish-pink flowers with sweet, purplish-black berries. [25]
    • Black Huckleberries: Red-to-pink flowers with purplish-black berries. [26]
    • Box Huckleberries: White or pinkish flowers with dark blue berries. [27]
    • Mountain Huckleberries: Pinkish-white flowers with purple to reddish-black berries. [28]
    • Red Huckleberries: Greenish to pinkish flowers with bright red berries. [29]
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Section 8 of 11:

Huckleberry vs. Blueberry: Storage

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  1. If you’ve purchased or handpicked some delicious blueberries, store them (unwashed) in your refrigerator. If fresh, these blueberries should last for up to two weeks. Similarly, huckleberries can be stored in a sealed container in your refrigerator’s crisper drawer for 1-2 weeks. [30]
    • For longer storage, both blueberries and huckleberries can be frozen for 6-12 months following the same procedure:
      • Wash and dry the berries, then spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet.
      • Place the berries in the freezer until firm, then put them into an airtight container or resealable plastic bag.
      • When you’re ready to use your berries, remove them from the bag or container and use them directly in your recipes (no need to thaw!).
Section 9 of 11:

Blueberries vs. Wild Blueberries vs. Bilberries

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  1. Wild blueberries are, unsurprisingly, more similar to blueberries than huckleberries. The wild-grown blueberries have a higher amount of skin and a smaller amount of water than cultivated blueberries, giving them a much more intense blueberry flavor. Wild blueberries also have up to two times more antioxidants than cultivated fruits, thanks to the higher level of pigment in the berry. [31]
  2. Bilberries are red or purple in color, compared to the blue (but sometimes purple) blueberry. Bilberries can even appear black with just a slight hint of blue. Similar to huckleberries, bilberries have a more intense and acidic taste than the sweet and subtle blueberry. Like the blueberry, however, bilberries have very delicate skin that can easily stain an eater’s fingers. [32]
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Section 10 of 11:

History of the Huckleberry & Blueberry

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  1. 1
    Huckleberries were a staple of indigenous life in the Northwestern U.S. Because huckleberries are native to the present-day Pacific Northwest, Native American tribes in this region relied heavily on these fruits, using them in their cuisine and traditional medicine. They would include the berries in herbal remedies for relieving pain and healing infections. Some Indigenous communities even held berry-gathering ceremonies that some towns still celebrate and commemorate! [33]
    • Once European colonists began to arrive in the 1600s, the settlers misidentified the fruits as bilberries (which grow in Europe). “Hurtleberry” eventually became “huckleberry,” which gives us the modern name of the fruit. [34]
    • The term “huckleberry” likely became even more popular and engrained in the English language thanks to Huckleberry Finn , the famed American novel by Mark Twain. [35]
    • Nowadays, “huckleberry” refers to a large variety of fruit-bearing plants that grow almost exclusively in the northwestern United States.
  2. 2
    Blueberries had a long history among indigenous tribes before cultivation in the 1900s. Like huckleberries, blueberries are native to North America, although they have a wider spread across the continent than huckleberries do. Blueberries also have a rich history of being used for nutrition and medicine by Native American tribes. [36] In fact, some scholars believe that blueberries were the first fruits eaten by early peoples following the most recent ice age. [37]
    • In the early 1900s, botanists Elizabeth Coleman White and Frederick Coville developed the first cultivated blueberries. [38]
    • At the time, White lived on a cranberry farm in New Jersey, where she began doing research into wild blueberry plants. Eventually, she and Coville came up with the process for cultivated blueberries, which gave us the commercial fruit that we know today. [39]
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Section 11 of 11:

Huckleberry vs. Blueberry: Summary

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  1. While huckleberries and blueberries are certainly similar in many ways, there are just as many ways to distinguish between the two scrumptious fruits. To sum things up, here are some of the key differences (and similarities) to tell a huckleberry from a blueberry:
    • Color: Both berries are bluish-purple, but huckleberries tend to be darker—bright red or almost black, in some cases. When opened, blueberries are white or pale green, and huckleberries are blue or purple.
    • Size: Both berries are round and small, but huckleberries are more oval than blueberries.
    • Growth: Blueberries always grow in large bunches, while huckleberries usually grow individually on the bush.
    • Flowers: Blueberry flowers are white, pale pink, or green, while huckleberry flowers are red or dark pink.
    • Texture: Blueberries have soft and tiny seeds, while huckleberries have larger and crunchier seeds.
    • Taste: Blueberries are juicier and sweeter, while huckleberries have a sharper and more tart flavor (and the seeds are bitter!).
    • Culinary Use: Both berries are tasty in baked goods, jams, and anywhere else you’d like to taste a fruity flavor!

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      References

      1. ↑ https://thewholeu.uw.edu/2017/06/28/a-quick-and-juicy-guide-to-berries-of-the-northwest/
      2. ↑ https://plantdatabase.uconn.edu/detail.php?pid=517
      3. ↑ https://www.thedailymeal.com/1260986/for-the-most-colorful-blueberries-frozen-is-always-better-heres-why/
      4. ↑ https://ospi.k12.wa.us/sites/default/files/2023-10/huckleberry.pdf
      5. ↑ https://thewholeu.uw.edu/2017/06/28/a-quick-and-juicy-guide-to-berries-of-the-northwest/
      6. ↑ https://wildhuckleberry.com/2020/05/03/how-to-describe-the-taste-of-huckleberries/
      7. ↑ https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/shrub/gaybac/all.html
      8. ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/files/Bluerry_CycleOfGrowth_Mark.pdf
      9. ↑ https://growingfruit.org/t/evergreen-huckleberry-vaccinium-ovatum/5097
      1. ↑ https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/gaylussacia/frondosa/
      2. ↑ https://www.scienceabc.com/nature/what-is-a-huckleberry.html
      3. ↑ https://www.chuckanutbay.com/2021/ingredient-spotlight/the-miraculous-huckleberry
      4. ↑ https://saltedplains.com/blueberry-substitute/
      5. ↑ https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/antioxidants
      6. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1357303906000910
      7. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11196611/
      8. ↑ https://www.uhhospitals.org/health-information/health-and-wellness-library/article/nutritionfacts-v1/blueberries-raw-1-cup
      9. ↑ https://www.nutritionix.com/food/huckleberry/1-cup
      10. ↑ https://www.nationalforests.org/blog/eight-juicy-questions-about-huckleberries
      11. ↑ https://wildhuckleberry.com/festivals/
      12. ↑ https://blueberry.org/about-blueberries/where-blueberries-grow/
      13. ↑ https://www.thedailymeal.com/1258744/unique-blueberry-varieties-you-should-know-about/
      14. ↑ https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=255944&isprofile=0&pt=7
      15. ↑ https://trees.umn.edu/patriot-blueberry-vaccinium-patriot
      16. ↑ https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/shrub/vacmem/all.html
      17. ↑ https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Gaylussacia+baccata
      18. ↑ https://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/literary-cultural-heritage-map-pa/feature-articles/pennsylvanias-oldest-citizen
      19. ↑ https://ospi.k12.wa.us/sites/default/files/2023-10/huckleberry.pdf
      20. ↑ https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/cs_vapa.pdf
      21. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/food-network-essentials/how-to-store-blueberries
      22. ↑ https://www.bonappetit.com/story/wild-blueberries-vs-cultivated?srsltid=AfmBOorwmcccm0jDyOYUTkB_2plStxegIaFOBnkFbCJIc8vuXfDrYahY
      23. ↑ https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/10/12/1343
      24. ↑ https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/22152
      25. ↑ https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1120105.pdf
      26. ↑ https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/pmla/article/abs/huckleberries-and-humans-on-the-naming-of-huckleberry-finn/77B459CA17E35F283D10E54D08EB1F72
      27. ↑ https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/garden-scoop/2019-01-19-history-blueberries-native-american-staple-domesticated-superfood
      28. ↑ https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1076&context=nabrew2018
      29. ↑ https://www.nj.gov/state/historical/assets/pdf/it-happened-here/ihhnj-er-blueberries.pdf
      30. ↑ https://www.nj.gov/state/historical/assets/pdf/it-happened-here/ihhnj-er-blueberries.pdf

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