Subtotal $0.00
Shop Now
Huckleberries are small, dark, wild berries that look a lot like blueberries, and the name covers more than one kind of plant. In the western mountains, the huckleberries people pick are species of Vaccinium, the same genus as blueberries; in the East, true huckleberries belong to a related genus, Gaylussacia, whose fruit has ten large seeds. Because huckleberries are mostly wild-picked, nutrition data are thin: the USDA SR Legacy database has a single huckleberry entry with only a handful of nutrients. This guide sets out what that entry says about huckleberry nutrition, how huckleberry vs blueberry compares in botany and in USDA numbers, and what is not known.
Peptide Labs does not sell huckleberries or huckleberry products. This article is general nutrition information, not medical advice.
Key Takeaways
- "Huckleberry" is a common name for berries in two related genera: Vaccinium in the West and Gaylussacia in the East.
- A 1975 USDA Forest Service note called thin-leaved huckleberry the most frequently harvested Vaccinium species in western North America.
- Eastern Gaylussacia huckleberries are easily told from blueberries by their ten large seeds.
- USDA SR Legacy has one entry, Huckleberries, raw (Alaska Native), with 37 calories per 100 grams and no fiber or sugar value.
- Claims about huckleberry nutrition beyond those few USDA values are not backed by standard reference data.
What are huckleberries?
The word huckleberry is a common name, not a single species, and it is used for plants in the heath family. Two groups matter for shoppers and berry pickers:
- Western huckleberries (Vaccinium): a USDA Forest Service research note from 1975 described Vaccinium membranaceum, the thin-leaved huckleberry, as the most frequently harvested Vaccinium species in western North America. It grows at moderate to high elevations in the mountains of British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho, usually in old burns, and the note said its fruits are gathered by thousands of berrypickers every year.
- Eastern huckleberries (Gaylussacia): a Virginia Tech dendrology fact sheet describes Gaylussacia as native to North America, with a small, round, blue-black, shiny berry-like fruit that is edible but not very sweet, and leaves dotted with yellow resin dots visible with a hand lens.
The same Forest Service note warned that the wild huckleberry resource was dwindling as old burns grew back into forest, and it studied the plant’s roots partly to help manage berry fields. That is a reminder that most huckleberries still come from wild land rather than farms, which is why they are usually sold as jam, syrup or frozen berries in the regions where they grow.
Huckleberry vs blueberry: the botany
Western huckleberries and blueberries are close relatives in the same genus, Vaccinium, so the line between them is partly a matter of local naming. The Forest Service note itself compares the roots of thin-leaved huckleberry with those of lowbush blueberry. Eastern huckleberries are a separate genus, and there the difference is easy to see once you bite in.
| Feature | Western huckleberries | Eastern huckleberries | Blueberries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Vaccinium (for example V. membranaceum) | Gaylussacia | Vaccinium |
| Where they grow (per sources) | Western mountains, often old burns | Native to North America | Wild and farmed |
| Seeds | Not described in our sources | Ten large seeds | Not the ten large seeds of Gaylussacia |
| Leaves | Not described in our sources | Yellow resin dots (hand lens) | Not described in our sources |
| USDA SR Legacy entry | One entry, species not named | Same single entry | Several entries |
Flavor varies by species and place, and none of the sources used here compares taste, so this guide leaves flavor to the cook. What the sources do support is the genus split and the ten-seed rule for Gaylussacia.
Huckleberry nutrition: what the USDA entry says
The USDA FoodData Central SR Legacy database has one huckleberry entry: Huckleberries, raw (Alaska Native), FDC ID 169808. It does not name a species and gives no portion weight such as a cup, so the values below are per 100 grams only. Many nutrients that most fruit entries carry, including fiber, total sugars and potassium, are not listed. Percent Daily Values use the FDA Daily Values.
| Nutrient (USDA FDC 169808) | Per 100 g | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 37 | Not applicable |
| Carbohydrate | 8.7 g | 3% |
| Protein | 0.4 g | 1% |
| Fat | 0.1 g | Not applicable |
| Vitamin C | 2.8 mg | 3% |
| Iron | 0.3 mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 15 mg | 1% |
| Niacin | 0.3 mg | 2% |
| Riboflavin | 0.03 mg | 2% |
| Sodium | 10 mg | 0% |
| Fiber, total sugars, potassium | Not listed | Not listed |
Read these numbers with care. A single entry for wild berries from one region cannot show how much huckleberries vary by species, ripeness or place, and the missing fields mean the database simply has no value, not that the berry has none. Huckleberries are described as dark, pigment-rich berries much like blueberries, which is why they appear in conversations about antioxidant-rich foods, but SR Legacy gives no pigment values for them and lab antioxidant scores do not show an effect in people.
Huckleberry vs blueberry in USDA numbers
SR Legacy also has a wild blueberry entry from the same Alaska Native set, which makes a fairer match than cultivated blueberries. All values are per 100 grams of fruit.
| Per 100 g (USDA FDC ID) | Huckleberries, raw, Alaska Native (169808) | Wild blueberries, frozen, Alaska Native (169799) | Blueberries, raw (171711) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 37 | 44 | 57 |
| Carbohydrate | 8.7 g | 10.4 g | 14.49 g |
| Fiber (% DV) | Not listed | Not listed | 2.4 g (9%) |
| Total sugars | Not listed | Not listed | 9.96 g |
| Vitamin C (% DV) | 2.8 mg (3%) | 2.2 mg (2%) | 9.7 mg (11%) |
| Iron (% DV) | 0.3 mg (2%) | 1.1 mg (6%) | 0.28 mg (2%) |
| Vitamin K (% DV) | Not listed | Not listed | 19.3 mcg (16%) |
| Manganese (% DV) | Not listed | Not listed | 0.336 mg (15%) |
The two Alaska Native entries are close to each other on calories, carbohydrate and vitamin C, and both are lower in calories than the cultivated blueberry entry. Beyond that, the comparison runs out of data: fiber, sugars, vitamin K and manganese are listed only for cultivated blueberries, where USDA shows about 16% and 15% of the Daily Value per 100 grams. Vitamin K matters for people who take warfarin and are asked to keep their intake steady; our guide to vitamin K in foods covers that, and any question about it belongs with your clinician.
If you want a dark berry with fuller USDA data, our guides to raspberries and strawberries list many more nutrients, and our sibling guide to elderberries covers a wild berry that must be cooked. For sugar across fruits, see our guide to fruit sugar levels. Exotic berries sold as powders, such as acai and goji berries, have their own guides.
Buying, picking and storing huckleberries
- Where to find them: outside huckleberry country, they mostly appear frozen, as jam, or as syrup and candy. Check the label on processed products for added sugar and for whether the product contains huckleberries or only huckleberry flavor.
- Picking wild: only pick berries you can identify with certainty, follow local land rules for gathering, and leave unfamiliar dark berries alone.
- Storing: fresh berries keep only a few days in the refrigerator; spread them on a tray to freeze, then bag them.
- Cooking: they work in the same recipes as blueberries, from muffins to sauces.
Huckleberries are not one of the nine major food allergens that US labels must declare, but any food can cause a reaction. Hives, swelling or trouble breathing need urgent care, and a clinician or allergist can help sort out unclear symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are huckleberries the same as blueberries?
Not exactly. Western huckleberries are in the same genus as blueberries, Vaccinium, while eastern huckleberries belong to Gaylussacia and have ten large seeds.
What is the huckleberry nutrition profile?
USDA’s only entry, Huckleberries, raw (Alaska Native), lists 37 calories, 8.7 grams of carbohydrate and small amounts of vitamin C, iron and calcium per 100 grams. Fiber and sugars are not listed.
Huckleberry vs blueberry: which has more vitamin C?
In USDA SR Legacy, cultivated raw blueberries list more vitamin C per 100 grams than the Alaska Native huckleberry entry, but the huckleberry data come from one wild sample set.
Why are huckleberries hard to find in stores?
Most are picked wild. A USDA Forest Service note described thin-leaved huckleberry as the most frequently harvested Vaccinium species in western North America.
Do huckleberries have seeds?
All have seeds. Eastern Gaylussacia huckleberries have ten large seeds, which is how botanists tell them from blueberries.
Can you eat huckleberries raw?
Yes, people eat ripe huckleberries fresh, frozen or cooked. Pick only berries you can identify with certainty.
Questions about a label? Contact us or read our Buyer’s Guide. Food comes first; follow the label and ask a healthcare provider before starting a supplement, especially if you take medicines, are pregnant or have a food allergy. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Last reviewed October 2026.
Related guides: Elderberries: Fruit Facts, USDA Nutrition and Raw Berry Safety, Blueberries: Nutrition, Benefits and Frozen Blueberries, Cranberries: Nutrition, Dried Cranberries and What Research Shows.