Hawthorn Berry Delivery or Pickup

Hawthorn, also known as quickthorn, hawberry, or thornapple, is a shrub from the family Crataegus. Their berries are known as haws, and are packed with flavor and nutrients. Hawthorn berries have a mild, sweet taste with a tangy tartness that has made them popular worldwide. 

The berries range in color on a spectrum from bright yellow to deep crimson and purples so dark they appear almost black. The fresh hawthorn berries usually found in grocery stores tend to be pink or red and perfect for adding a dash of color to various dishes.

The name crataegus for hawthorn comes from the Greek Kratos, which means “strength,” and Akis, which means “sharp,” referring to the strength of the wood and the sharpness of the thorns that are found on their branches. The family is known as Rosacaea and also includes apples, cherries, and roses. 

Hawthorn has been used in a variety of ways for centuries and is one of the oldest known herbal remedies. Ancient physicians took advantage of its medicinal properties and used hawthorn berries in treatments for a range of ailments, from reversing the signs of aging to improving blood flow around the heart.

Many cultures use hawthorns in a variety of recipes and traditional rituals. In some southern U.S states, the berries are known as mayhaws because they are usually harvested in the month of May. They are made into jelly, which is then eaten on toast or in a variety of desserts.

In the UK, hawthorn berries are used to make wine and jelly, while the young leaves and buds are also eaten, known as 'bread and cheese'.  In Mexico, the berries are known as tejocotes and are eaten in many forms. They are also used in pinatas, mixed with other fruits as part of a festive punch, and mixed with chili powder and made into a popular type of sweet.

In China, hawthorn is used to make an array of snacks, including haw flakes pressed into sweet cakes or served on a stick known as tanghulu. You can also buy juices and alcoholic drinks made from hawthorn berries in the country, and some traditional recipes for sweet and sour sauce require hawthorn berry jam.

Hawthorn berries are at their best when picked at the peak of their ripeness and kept fresh. Their skin should be smooth, plump, and shiny, and the flesh inside should be firm and creamy. 

To test the freshness of hawthorn berries, squeeze them gently to feel the texture of the flesh. If they are hard, then they are unripe, and the inner flesh will be green, but if they are too soft, then they may be overripe, and the inner flesh can be gritty and dry.

There are a number of types of hawthorn berry, including:

Many of these are edible, but there are also some species grown for their ornamental appeal, and hawthorns are often grown into bonsai trees that have beautiful flowers.

Although they are known as berries, the fruit of the hawthorn is actually a pome, a structure similar to that of an apple with seeds inside. They not only appeal to humans but also provide food for many insect and bird species that both rely on the berries for food and pollinate and propagate the plants as they go.

If you are looking for a tasty way to give yourself a boost, then hawthorn berry could be just what you need. You can order via the Instacart app and let our shoppers choose all your groceries and deliver them to you in as little as 2 hours!