Ingredient Spotlight

When you think of huckleberries, what comes to mind?

If you’re anything like us, maybe you picture rolling mountains, warm summer nights, and Grandma’s favorite pie. But beyond that, we tend to draw a blank.

As it turns out, each of those scenes is totally correct, but there’s so much more to huckleberries and we got the scoop from the pros! We reached out to Tom LaMonte, owner of Northwest Wild Foods — our source for getting the amazing huckleberries used in our huckleberry cheesecake — and he filled us in on this incredible fruit. 

Let’s dive in!

Huckleberry vs. Blueberry

The huckleberry is commonly compared to the blueberry — and on the surface, this makes total sense. They come from the same family, but while blueberries are obviously blue, huckleberries are much more vibrant and are often hued red, purple, and even black. And on the inside, the differences continue. The inside fruit of the blueberry is often white-ish in color, while huckleberries keep their jewel tones with a blue interior.

But the differences are much more than skin-deep. Tom describes huckleberries as “blueberries on steroids” with much more sweetness and tang than your average blueberry (YUM!). 

We perused Northwest Wild Foods to get the scoop on the incredible health benefits of huckleberries — and for good reason! Huckleberries are fantastic for heart health, eye health, and vascular health, as well as being high in Vitamins C, A and B, iron, and potassium. The benefits just keep coming! 

Delicious AND nutritious? What a win! And to make them taste that much sweeter, you can only get them in one place on earth…

Huckleberry Heaven

The magic all happens in the North Cascades, at elevations between 2,000 and 6,000 feet. “I’ve never seen or heard of [edible] huckleberries from anywhere else but here,” Tom told us. The huckleberry’s peak season occurs from around mid-August to mid-September — and that’s it! 

This explains why they’re such a hot commodity. 

You’ll never hear of a huckleberry farm, either! “The University of Idaho tried to farm huckleberries for twenty years without success,” Tom explained. “Huckleberries are all wild, foraged in the mountains and grown by Mother Nature!” 

No wonder they taste absolutely magical. 

Pancakes, Cheesecake, and Salmon – Oh My!

We were curious: what’s the best way to use the huckleberry in cooking? 

“We began selling wild blackberries and wild huckleberries to restaurants, as they make a superior dessert,” Tom shared with us. “We then realized the health benefits of the berries later on, and it’s a win-win! Huckleberries go into anything a blueberry could, and will always make it better. Some of our favorites are huckleberry lemonade, huckleberry pancakes, huckleberries mixed into lemon yogurt, and in a huckleberry crisp.” We’re sure you can agree that wow, these sound incredible!

We also found a delicious-sounding recipe for Grilled Salmon with Huckleberry Relish, if you have more of a savory palate. And here’s the good news: even if you’re not able to travel to the North Cascades at an elevation of 2,000-6,000 feet during late August, you can still access incredible wild huckleberries from our friends at Northwest Wild Foods. They sell a variety of berries, both fresh and frozen — and they’re always picked wild and sustainably preserved. 

However, if you’re not quite up to another cooking endeavor, we have a solution! You can get the taste of wild-grown, ethically-sourced huckleberries in our Huckleberry Cheesecake, made (as always!) with natural, whole ingredients. It’s the perfect way to get a quick taste of summer as we wait for spring to arrive – and we offer a sugar-free version, too. You can enjoy a fantastic cheesecake, no matter your lifestyle! 

Real.Good.(Huckleberry)Cheesecake.

Huckleberries just might become our new favorite berry — and for good reason! They offer a wide variety of health benefits, and are the perfect addition to all kinds of recipes, both sweet and savory. Get a taste of huckleberry goodness, and grab a cheesecake to share (or enjoy alone — we’ll never tell).

Real.Good. Kosher.

Did you notice? Chuckanut Bay Foods is proud to display our Kosher Certification on each product we sell! It is our top priority that not only the ingredients but also the process of our food production uphold the cleanliness and purity of high-quality kosher. 

 A Little Kosher History

The term “kosher” refers to the extensive biblical dietary laws given to Jews gathered at Mt. Sinai over 3,000 years ago. These laws outline specific commandments regarding the ingredients and methods of all food preparation. The underlying message is this — what you put into your body, becomes part of you. 

Therefore, cleanliness and purity are of extreme importance – but kosher isn’t just about physical wellness. This way of life is held in reverence by Jewish communities around the world and is considered a mitzvah – a “holy precept”. Kosher food laws are used to not only enrich the physical diet but also to nourish and fuel the soul. 

From our ingredients to the equipment we use, we ensure that all elements of production remain kosher from start to finish, guaranteeing the outer and inner purity upheld for generations. 

The Certification Process

Obtaining kosher status requires a multi-step process, beginning first with our application and consultation with a Rabbinic coordinator to ensure that our entire process is kosher. This includes an audit of our entire system of operations, including inspection of our production lines, receiving and storing methods, and even our cleaning procedures and record logs. Of course, this also includes a review of all of our ingredients and product formulas! All this is necessary to create and maintain a kosher setup that adheres to the highest kosher standards. 

Our staff is fully trained in maintaining our kosher methods as thoroughly as possible at all levels. To ensure this, we receive regular mid-year visits through our Kosher field representative, guaranteeing that our products and system continue to reflect our values of purity and cleanliness.

Kosher Options to Suit Every Preference

Since our full line of cheesecakes and desserts are all certified kosher, there is a flavor to suit every palate and diet preference – no need to sacrifice one restriction for another!

Our original treats such as the New York cheesecake and our delicious Huckleberry are of course kosher, but it doesn’t stop there.

If you prefer No Sugar Added (now sweetened with monk fruit!), you can enjoy our No Sugar Added Chocolate Truffle, New York, or 

Strawberry cheesecakes – all of which maintain our high kosher standards while adding a few additional health perks. 

And, as you may have guessed, our gluten-free cheesecakes are certified kosher as well to ensure that our customers with Celiac or gluten intolerance are able to partake without sacrificing their health (Hey there, Gluten-Free Tuxedo!). 

No-Compromise Kosher — Guaranteed.

We are proud to offer treats that are not only sweet and satisfying but also reflect that we, as a company, refuse to compromise our values. We use only real, high-quality kosher ingredients to create mouthwatering desserts that are safe and pure for the whole family, regardless of dietary needs or preferences. 

Explore our website, find your favorite flavor, and enjoy a decadent treat made with REAL ingredients by REAL people.