Sea buckthorn is a distinctive orange berry that grows on a hardy shrub found across parts of Europe and Asia. Known for its vivid colour and characteristically sharp, tart flavour, the berry has a long history of use in food and drink and is increasingly appearing in modern juices, botanical drinks and wellness products.
At 777AURA, sea buckthorn is the signature fruit at the heart of our ENERGY Sea Buckthorn Botanical Wellness Shot, crafted in Scotland.
But what exactly is sea buckthorn, where does it come from, and what does it taste like?
This guide explores the berry itself from its botanical origins and flavour to the ways it is used in food and drink today.
What is sea buckthorn?
Sea buckthorn is the fruit of Hippophae rhamnoides, a thorny deciduous shrub in the Elaeagnaceae family. The plant produces clusters of small berries that typically develop a vivid yellow, orange or orange-red colour when ripe.
Sea buckthorn is naturally associated with challenging growing environments and occurs across a broad area of Europe and Asia. Different varieties and growing conditions can influence the size, colour and flavour of the fruit.
The berries have a notably tart, acidic character, which is one reason sea buckthorn is often combined with other ingredients when used in juices and drinks.
What does sea buckthorn taste like?
Sea buckthorn has a distinctive flavour that is noticeably tart and acidic. Depending on the variety, ripeness and how it is prepared, the fruit can have sharp citrus-like notes alongside its characteristic berry flavour.
Because of this intensity, sea buckthorn is often paired with sweeter or more familiar flavours in drinks and food products.
In 777AURA ENERGY, we pair sea buckthorn with orange, along with ginger, lemon and selected botanicals, creating a bright, citrus-led botanical wellness shot.
Where does sea buckthorn come from?
Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) has a broad natural distribution across parts of Europe and Asia. It is a hardy shrub capable of growing in environments including coastal areas, riverbanks and mountainous regions.
Its ability to grow in demanding conditions has helped sea buckthorn establish itself across a wide geographical range, although the characteristics of the berries can vary between populations and cultivated varieties.
How is sea buckthorn used?
Sea buckthorn can be used in a variety of food and drink products. Because the fresh berries have an intense tart flavour, they are often processed into juices, purées, preserves, sauces and other fruit-based products.
Sea buckthorn is also used as an ingredient in botanical drinks, where its distinctive colour and sharp flavour can be combined with other fruits and botanicals.
At 777AURA, sea buckthorn is the fruit at the heart of ENERGY — our 60ml Sea Buckthorn Botanical Wellness Shot, crafted in Scotland.
Rather than treating sea buckthorn as simply another ingredient in a long list, ENERGY was created to give the berry a central role in the flavour and identity of the drink.
Sea buckthorn vs orange: what’s the difference?
Despite its vivid orange colour and sometimes citrus-like sharpness, sea buckthorn is not a citrus fruit and is not related to oranges.
Sea buckthorn berries grow on shrubs belonging to the Hippophae genus, while oranges are citrus fruits belonging to the Citrus genus.
Their flavours are also distinct. Sea buckthorn typically has an intense tart and acidic character, while orange has the familiar balance of sweetness and citrus acidity.
In 777AURA ENERGY, we bring the two together: sea buckthorn provides the distinctive foundation of the drink, while orange complements its naturally sharp character.
Where can I buy sea buckthorn products in the UK?
Sea buckthorn is less familiar in the UK than fruits such as orange, raspberry or blueberry, but it can be found in specialist juices, foods and botanical drinks.
When looking for sea buckthorn products, check how prominently the berry features in the product and what other ingredients it has been combined with.
777AURA ENERGY is a Scottish-crafted 60ml botanical wellness shot built around sea buckthorn and orange, alongside a selected blend of botanicals and mushrooms. It is available directly from 777 AURA in the UK as individual shots and multipacks.Discover 777AURA ENERGY
Why did 777AURA choose sea buckthorn?
We wanted ENERGY to begin with a fruit that had a distinctive identity of its own.
Sea buckthorn stood out for its vivid orange colour and characteristically sharp, tart flavour. Rather than building ENERGY around a conventional juice flavour, we chose sea buckthorn as its foundation and paired it with orange, ginger, lemon and selected botanicals.
Sea Buckthorn FAQs
What is sea buckthorn?
Sea buckthorn is the fruit of Hippophae rhamnoides, a thorny shrub found across parts of Europe and Asia. It produces small, brightly coloured berries known for their distinctive tart flavour.
What does sea buckthorn taste like?
Sea buckthorn has a sharp, tart and acidic flavour. Depending on the variety and ripeness, it can also have citrus-like notes, which is why it works well alongside other fruit flavours in drinks.
Is sea buckthorn a citrus fruit?
No. Despite its orange colour and sharp flavour, sea buckthorn is not a citrus fruit. Sea buckthorn belongs to the Hippophae genus, while oranges and other citrus fruits belong to the Citrus genus.
Is sea buckthorn the same as buckthorn?
Does 777AURA ENERGY contain sea buckthorn?
Yes. 777AURA ENERGY is a 60ml botanical wellness shot built around sea buckthorn and orange, alongside ginger, lemon and selected botanicals and mushrooms. It is crafted in Scotland as part of the 777 AURA range.
Where can I buy a sea buckthorn wellness shot in the UK?
777AURA ENERGY Sea Buckthorn Botanical Wellness Shot is available directly from 777AURA in the UK as an individual 60ml shot and in multipacks.
Sources & further reading
Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) plant information
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — Plants of the World Online — Hippophae rhamnoides botanical taxonomy and distribution