Cloudberry is a golden-amber, aggregate drupe of a creeping herbaceous perennial in the rose family, valued across the Nordic countries as one of the most prized wild berries. Each fruit is composed of a few large, juicy drupelets with a tart-sweet, yogurt-like flavor and a high natural benzoic acid content.
History & Origins
Cloudberries have been gathered by Indigenous Sámi, Inuit, and northern Russian peoples for millennia, often as a critical pre-winter source of vitamin C. In Scandinavian folk medicine they were administered for scurvy and wound care, and by the 19th century they had become a celebrated commercial fruit in Norway, Sweden, and Finland, where the amber liqueur Lakkalikööri emerged around the mid-1800s. Today, picking rights are regulated in several Nordic countries, and cultivation research continues in Norway, Finland, and Scotland due to the berry's short shelf life and cultural prestige.
Nutrition Facts
Per 100 g, edible portion (estimated)
- 51 kcalCalories
- 2.2 gProtein
- 0.5 gFat
- 8.6 gCarbs
- 6.3 gFiber
- 3 gSugars
- 190 mgPotassium
- 52 mgVitamin C
- 210 mcgVitamin A
Culinary Uses
- Norwegian and Finnish cloudberry jam (multekrem/hyytelö) served with milk or ice cream
- Fresh cloudberries topped with whipped cream and sugar (Swedish hjortronsylt or Norwegian multer)
- Lakkalikööri liqueur, made by steeping berries in vodka or neutral spirit
- Cloudberry compote and purée for pastries, cheesecakes, and Arctic-inspired desserts
Known Benefits
- Exceptionally high vitamin C content historically used to prevent scurvy
- Rich in ellagitannins and ellagic acid with notable antioxidant capacity
- Provides provitamin A carotenoids supporting vision and skin health
- High dietary fiber aiding digestive health
Hidden Benefits
- Naturally high benzoic acid acts as a built-in preservative, extending shelf life
- Contains phytosterols such as β-sitosterol linked to lipid metabolism support
- Source of rare Arctic betalain pigments (lambertianin) studied for anti-inflammatory effects
- Provides lignans and pectic polysaccharides with potential prebiotic activity
Cautions & Considerations
- Picking is restricted or banned in certain Norwegian, Finnish, and Swedish nature reserves
- Short shelf life of 2–5 days after harvest due to fragile drupelets
- May provoke allergic reactions in individuals sensitive to other Rosaceae fruits
- Expensive and often sold frozen or preserved due to limited wild supply
