Honeyberry, also known as haskap, is a distinctive elongated berry known for its deep blue-purple colour and complex sweet-tart flavour. Although still relatively unfamiliar to many people in the UK, honeyberry has a long history in colder northern regions and is becoming increasingly recognised as an interesting ingredient in food and drink.
At 777AURA, honeyberry is the signature fruit at the heart of our HER Honeyberry (Haskap) Botanical Wellness Shot, crafted in Scotland.
But what exactly is honeyberry, where does it come from, and what makes it different from more familiar berries such as blueberries?
This guide explores the berry itself from its origins and alternative names to its flavour and how it is used today.
What is a honeyberry?
Honeyberry is the fruit of Lonicera caerulea, a species of honeysuckle native to cooler regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Unlike the ornamental honeysuckles many people recognise from gardens, this species produces edible, elongated blue berries.
Depending on where you are in the world, you may see the fruit described as honeyberry, haskap, blue honeysuckle or edible honeysuckle.
The berries typically have a dark blue to purple skin and a richly coloured interior. Their flavour can vary by variety and ripeness, combining sweetness with noticeable tartness.
Honeyberry vs Haskap
Yes. Honeyberry and haskap are commonly used names for berries from Lonicera caerulea. You may also come across names such as blue honeysuckle or edible honeysuckle.
The terminology can vary depending on the country, variety and how the fruit is marketed. In the UK, “honeyberry” is often the more immediately understandable name, while “haskap” is also widely used for the fruit.
So, if you see a drink or food containing haskap, you are looking at the same species of fruit commonly referred to as honeyberry.
What does honeyberry taste like?
Honeyberry has a distinctive flavour that is difficult to describe with a single comparison. Depending on the variety and ripeness, it can combine sweet, tart and slightly tangy berry notes.
People sometimes compare aspects of its flavour with more familiar dark berries, but honeyberry has a character of its own. Its balance of sweetness and acidity also makes it an interesting ingredient for juices, drinks, preserves and other berry-based products.
In 777AURA HER, we pair honeyberry with raspberry to create a bright, fruit-led botanical wellness shot rather than masking the character of the berry.
Honeyberry vs blueberry: what’s the difference?
Honeyberries and blueberries may look similar at first glance, but they come from different plants and have distinct characteristics.
Honeyberry (Lonicera caerulea) belongs to the honeysuckle genus and typically has an elongated shape. Blueberries belong to the Vaccinium genus and are usually round.
Their flavours are different too. Honeyberry can have a pronounced sweet-tart character, while blueberries are generally associated with a milder, familiar berry sweetness. Exact flavour varies considerably according to variety and ripeness.
Honeyberry is also much less familiar to UK consumers, which is one reason we chose it as the signature fruit for 777AURA HER. We wanted HER to have an identity beyond the ingredients commonly found in conventional wellness shots.
How is honeyberry used?
Honeyberries can be eaten fresh when available, but their colour and distinctive flavour also make them suitable for juices, smoothies, preserves, sauces and other food and drink products.
At 777AURA, we use honeyberry as the fruit at the heart of HER our 60ml Honeyberry (Haskap) Botanical Wellness Shot, crafted in Scotland.
Rather than treating honeyberry as simply another ingredient in a long list, HER was created to give this unusual berry a central role in the flavour and identity of the drink.
Honeyberries can be eaten fresh when available, but their colour and distinctive flavour also make them suitable for juices, smoothies, preserves, sauces and other food and drink products.
Where can I buy honeyberry products in the UK?
Honeyberry is still relatively unusual in the UK compared with berries such as blueberry, raspberry and blackcurrant, but it is increasingly appearing in specialist food, drink and wellness products.
When looking for honeyberry products, it is worth searching for both “honeyberry” and “haskap”, as brands and producers may use either name for Lonicera caerulea.
777AURA HER is a Scottish-crafted 60ml botanical wellness shot built around honeyberry (haskap) and raspberry. It is available directly from 777AURA in the UK as individual shots and multipacks.
Why did 777AURA choose honeyberry?
We wanted HER to begin with an ingredient that felt distinctive.
Honeyberry stood out for its deep colour, complex sweet-tart character and relative unfamiliarity in the UK. Rather than creating another wellness shot dominated by the usual flavour combinations, we chose honeyberry as the foundation of HER and paired it with raspberry and selected botanicals.
HER is crafted in Scotland using Scottish mineral water and bottled in glass as part of the 777AURA range.
Our philosophy is simple: one shot daily, shaken gently and drunk with intention.
For us, drink with intention means taking a moment before you drink to focus on what you want to welcome into your life how you want to feel, what you want to create, or where you want to go and carrying that intention into your day.
Honeyberry FAQs
Is honeyberry the same as haskap?
Yes. Honeyberry and haskap are commonly used names for the edible fruit of Lonicera caerulea. You may also see it called blue honeysuckle or edible honeysuckle.
What does honeyberry taste like?
Honeyberry typically has a sweet-tart, tangy berry flavour. The exact taste varies depending on the variety and ripeness of the fruit.
Is honeyberry a blueberry?
No. Although the fruits can have a similar blue-purple appearance, they come from different plants. Honeyberry comes from Lonicera caerulea, while blueberries belong to the Vaccinium genus.
Can you get honeyberry in the UK?
Yes. Honeyberries are grown in the UK and can also be found in selected food and drink products. Because the fruit may be described as either honeyberry or haskap, searching for both names can help when looking for products.
Does 777AURA contain honeyberry?
Yes. 777AURA HER is a 60ml botanical wellness shot built around honeyberry (haskap) and raspberry. It is crafted in Scotland and forms part of the 777 AURA botanical wellness shot range.
Where can I buy a honeyberry wellness shot in the UK?
777AURA HER Honeyberry (Haskap) Botanical Wellness Shot is available directly from 777AURA in the UK. HER is available as an individual 60ml shot and in multipacks.
Frequently Asked Questions About Honeyberry
Is honeyberry the same as haskap?
Yes. Honeyberry and haskap are commonly used names for the fruit of Lonicera caerulea. You may also see it called blue honeysuckle or edible honeysuckle.
What does honeyberry taste like?
Honeyberry has a distinctive sweet-tart flavour. The exact taste varies by variety and ripeness, but it can combine sweetness with noticeable acidity and a rich berry character.
Which 777AURA shot contains honeyberry?
777AURA HER is a 60ml botanical wellness shot crafted in Scotland with honeyberry (haskap) and raspberry at the heart of its flavour. HER is part of the 777AURA range of Scottish-crafted botanical wellness shots.
Where can I buy a honeyberry wellness shot in the UK?
777AURA HER — Honeyberry (Haskap) Botanical Wellness Shot, 60ml is available directly from 777AURA in the UK. HER combines honeyberry (haskap) and raspberry in a botanical wellness shot crafted in Scotland.
Sources & further reading
Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Honeyberry (Lonicera caerulea) growing guide and plant information
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — Plants of the World Online — Lonicera caerulea botanical taxonomy and distribution