Cloudberry
Botanical Name: Rubus chamaemorus L., Rosaceae
Common names: Lakka, Bakeapple, Cloudberry, Hjortron, Red Mulberry, Chicoutai
Botanical Description: Cloudberry is a herbaceous, perennial plant, rarely exceeding 20cm in height with pale orangey yellow raspberry-like fruits. Each plant has at most one flower, and of these flowers only female ones turn into berries. As the Cloudberry matures, it changes from a reddish to a yellowish colour.
Where does it grow: Cloudberry is only found in sub arctic regions including northern Finland, Sweden, Norway, Canada and Russia. It is treasured in Finland, where it is depicted on the two Euro coin. Average yield is only around 20kg per hectare.
Key Active Ingredients: Cloudberry is exceptionally high in vitamins A (30 mg/100g) and C (50–150mg/100g) and ellagic acid (160 mg/100 g seedless dry weight) and contains a small amount of other acids and flavonols (quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin).
Traditional therapeutic use: Formerly, this fruit was an important remedy for scurvy among Arctic hunters. Cloudberry is traditionally known for treating kidney and digestive ailments. Other indications are as an antiepileptic, antidiabetic, hypocholesterolaemic, hypotensive. A decoction of root and lower stem has been used to ease labour pains.