Vaccinium myrtillus
A small, deep-blue berry found in Finnish forests, with a rich purple color that extends beyond its skin and into its flesh. It naturally contains a variety of polyphenols, including anthocyanins and catechins. Anthocyanins are responsible for its distinctive deep blue-purple color.
Bilberries have a long history in Nordic food traditions and traditional herbal practices.
Vaccinium vitis-idaea
A distinctly Nordic forest berry, known for its vibrant red color and sour flavor. It naturally contains a variety of plant compounds, including catechin-type tannins, flavonoids, and other polyphenols.
Lingonberries and their juice have long been enjoyed in Nordic food traditions and folk practices. In traditional herbal use, they have been particularly associated with urinary tract health and general well-being.
Hippophae rhamnoides
A small, vibrant orange berry with a distinctively bold flavor. It naturally contains a variety of plant compounds, including carotenoids, flavonoids, and phytosterols, as well as oils found in its flesh and seeds.
Sea buckthorn has traditionally been valued as a plant associated with strength and vitality.
Urtica dioica
One of the most widely recognized wild green plants. Its leaves naturally contain flavonoids, chlorophyll, carotenoids, and a variety of minerals.
Nettle has a long history in traditional food and herbal practices. Particularly valued in spring, it was traditionally gathered and regarded as a seasonal plant associated with strength and vitality.
Nettle’s tiny seeds are also edible and naturally contain plant oils, including various fatty acids. In traditional practices, the seeds were used alongside the leaves, primarily as a nourishing ingredient associated with strength and vitality.
Taraxacum officinale
Dandelion leaves naturally contain characteristic bitter compounds, along with carotenoids and other plant compounds.
Bitter plants have traditionally been used to support appetite and digestion. Dandelion was also commonly consumed in spring as part of traditional cleansing and herbal routines, often alongside nettle and yarrow.
Plantago major
A familiar wild plant commonly found in meadows, along roadsides, and at the edges of forests. Its leaves naturally contain tannins, mucilage, flavonoids, polysaccharides, and aucubin.
Plantain has a long history in European traditional herbal practices, particularly in connection with the care of the respiratory tract, mucous membranes, and skin.
Achillea millefolium
Yarrow is an aromatic wild plant with a distinctive scent derived in part from its natural essential oils. It also contains flavonoids, bitter compounds, and a variety of other plant compounds.
Traditionally, yarrow has been used to support digestion, stimulate appetite, and promote women's health.
Chamaenerion angustifolium
Fireweed is a distinctive wild plant with vibrant pink flowers that can be found abundantly on Nordic landscapes. Its leaves naturally contain polyphenols and tannins, and its young leaves and shoots have long been used in traditional practices.
In traditional herbal medicine, fireweed has been particularly valued for its role in supporting digestive health and men's health.
Aegopodium podagraria
Ground elder is a wild, edible plant belonging to the carrot family and is widely found throughout Europe. Its young leaves have traditionally been used in salads, soups, and other dishes. The leaves naturally contain flavonoids, polyacetylenes, phenolic compounds, coumarins, and essential oils.
Ground elder has a long history in European folk and monastic herbal traditions, where it was primarily used in connection with gout and joint-related discomfort.
Ribes nigrum
Blackcurrants are prized not only for their berries but also for their intensely aromatic leaves. The leaves naturally contain flavonols, proanthocyanidins, and essential oils.
Traditionally used as herbal teas and medicine, blackcurrant leaves have long been used to support the body's natural fluid balance and were particularly popular during the colder months and cold season.
Rudbeckia laciniata 'Hortensia'
Native to North America, this plant is known for its distinctive yellow flowers and has a long history of traditional herbal use among Indigenous peoples.
Traditionally, it was used to support digestion and was valued during the colder months. Its vibrant yellow flowers are also edible, and these are what we use in HortaBerry.
Picea abies
Young spruce buds have a fresh, distinctly forest-like aroma. They naturally contain terpene-based essential oils and lignans.
Spruce buds have long been gathered and used in Nordic folk traditions, particularly during the colder months and in traditional herbal practices associated with respiratory care.
