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Montana's World Famous Huckleberries
During the summer and fall, wild huckleberries grow
abundantly in Montana. Bears love huckleberries, and they are a
big part of both the grizzly and the black bear’s diet.
Huckleberries are also one of Montana's original "gourmet"
people foods.
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Huckleberries can be found in baked goods, jellies and preserves, pies,
syrups, sauces, even soaps and lotions. Huckleberries are not cultivated in
fields, but grow wild on the mountains and in Montana's beautiful
forests. The name "huckleberry" is used by many people to
identify wild blueberries.
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Huckleberry jams, honey, pie filling and all things huckleberry
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Huckleberries are related to blueberries, but are
quite different. Blueberries have many small, soft, barely
discernible seeds, while huckleberries have ten large seeds that are
much tougher. As to color, huckleberries are blackish blue or
red-black - a kind of a purple color, and blueberries are blue to
dark blue. Some people call the red-black huckleberry the "southern
cranberry".
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Another name for the huckleberry is "bilberry".
During World War II, British pilots ate bilberries before night
flights to enhance their vision. Huckleberries are also useful
treating diarrhea, hemorrhoids and sugar metabolism problems.
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Huckleberries have pink flowers and blueberries
typically have white flowers.
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Huckleberries were used by indigenous Indians as a
source of food and as dyes.
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Huckleberries only grow in the wild, and local
pickers compete with bears for their crop and call huckleberries
"purple gold". A gallon of huckleberries usually sells for between
$15 and $30, but in poor harvest years they can fetch almost $50.
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No one has yet succeeded in growing huckleberries
commercially. Because of this, huckleberries are a true "natural
food" as no fertilizers or pesticides are used.
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Huckleberry was a turn of phrase from the early
1800's used to describe something modest or inferior.
Huckleberry Finn was the name given by Mark Twain to his character
in Tom Sawyer designating a fellow of lower social standing than
Tom. "I'm your huckleberry" was a popular expression of
affection in the late 1800's, and don't forget "Huckleberry Hound",
a cartoon show from the late 1950s featuring a laid-back dog.
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One little known huckleberry fact is that the leaf
of the huckleberry is used by naturopathic practitioners to treat
sugar diabetes, and disorders of the kidneys and gallbladder. The
active principle in both is
neomyrtilicine. Huckleberries contain tannins and
anthocyanins which improves vision and stimulates circulation by
strengthening capillaries.
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