Partridgeberries and bakeapples: Newfoundland berries to taste in St. John's

Newfoundland's short summer and acid, rocky ground are not kind to most crops, but they suit wild berries perfectly. Every late summer and fall, people head out to the barrens and bogs with buckets, and the berries they bring back become the pies, jams and sauces that define the province's desserts. Two of them, partridgeberries and bakeapples, are worth seeking out on any visit to St. John's.

What are partridgeberries?

Partridgeberries are small, bright red berries that grow low to the ground. They belong to the same family as the cranberry and are known elsewhere as lingonberries. They are tart, with a little bitterness, which makes them ideal for:

• Pies and crumbles
• Muffins and loaves
• Jams and sauces
• A sauce for game or meat, much as cranberries are used

They keep well, so partridgeberry jams and frozen berries are available long after the picking season.

What are bakeapples?

Despite the name, bakeapples have nothing to do with apples. They are the berry known elsewhere as the cloudberry: a soft, golden-orange berry that grows singly on a short plant in boggy ground. They are much rarer than partridgeberries and hard to pick in quantity, which makes them prized. The flavour is unusual, sweet and slightly tart, with a hint of something like apricot or honey.

You will most often find bakeapples as jam, served with scones, toast or desserts, and sometimes as a sauce over cheesecake or ice cream.

When are Newfoundland berries in season?

Roughly speaking, berries are picked from late summer into fall. Bakeapples come earlier, often in late summer, and partridgeberries later, into the fall. The exact timing depends on the year and the weather, so ask locally. Blueberries, raspberries and other wild berries are picked around the same time.

Where can you taste these berries in St. John's?

Look for them in:

• Bakeries and cafés, in muffins, scones, squares and pies
• Restaurants, especially on dessert menus and with game dishes
• Breakfast and brunch menus, as a jam with toutons or toast
• Markets, including the St. John's Farmers' Market, which runs on Saturdays at 245 Freshwater Road, where local producers often sell jams and baking
• Gift shops and grocery stores, which sell jars of jam to take home

Menus change with the season, so the fresh berries are easiest to find in late summer and fall, while jams are available year round.

What is the best way to try partridgeberries?

A slice of warm partridgeberry pie, or a partridgeberry crumble with ice cream, shows off the tartness well. A muffin is an easy introduction. If you like savoury food, look for a partridgeberry sauce served with meat or game.

What is the best way to try bakeapples?

Bakeapple jam on a scone or a warm touton is the classic. If you see a bakeapple dessert on a menu, order it; you may not see it often.

Can you pick berries yourself near St. John's?

Many locals do, and the barrens around the city and along the coast are full of berries in season. If you go, ask locally about where picking is allowed, respect private land, and be careful on the boggy ground. Do not eat any berry you cannot identify with certainty.

What other berries grow in Newfoundland?

Partridgeberries and bakeapples get the attention, but they are not alone. Wild blueberries grow thickly on the barrens and turn up in pies, pancakes and muffins in late summer. Raspberries grow along roadsides and in clearings. Crowberries, small and dark, are picked in some areas, and squashberries are used for jelly. Each has its own season and its own loyal fans. A bakery case in late August can be a tour of the province's berries in one visit, so ask what is fresh that week.

Can you take berry jams home?

Yes. Jams travel well and make good gifts. Check the rules for liquids and gels in carry-on luggage if you are flying, and pack jars in your checked bag if in doubt.

Are partridgeberries and bakeapples known by other names?

Yes, and knowing them helps if you have eaten them elsewhere.

Newfoundland name	Also known as	Taste
Partridgeberry	Lingonberry, used across Scandinavia	Tart, a little like cranberry
Bakeapple	Cloudberry	Soft, honeyed and a little tart
Blueberry	Wild lowbush blueberry	Small and intense

Bakeapples are prized and expensive because they are hard to pick, growing one berry to a plant in bogs, and the season is short. A jar of bakeapple jam is one of the most treasured gifts to bring home from Newfoundland.

How do you remember where you had the best pie?

Berry desserts are one of the joys of a late-summer visit. Mosey lets you rate the dishes you actually ordered, with photos, and keep a list of bakeries and cafés to try, so you know where to go back for another slice.

More guides to read next:

• Brunch in St. John's: toutons, fish cakes and weekend lines
• A day trip from St. John's to Petty Harbour: fish and chips by the water
• Eating in Quidi Vidi Village: a food guide to St. John's fishing village

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.