Learn all about what makes Marionberries and Boysenberries different than your standard grocery store blackberry.
In 2024, I headed to the Pacific Northwest for the very first time in the summer. My time in this part of the country has been very limited to just a handful days for a conference nearly 5 years ago.
One of the things that got me excited about coming here was the berries. I knew Washington and Oregon are great growing regions for berries, and that they would have some berries I've yet to try.
The first full day in Washington, I headed to a local market stand (Bi-Zi Farms in Vancouver, Washington) hoping to find some new berries. Mission accomplished!
In this post I am going to be sharing with you all about marionberries and boysenberries and how they are different from your run of the mill blackberry.
Blackberries
📅 Found in grocery stores year round. Local blackberries in your region are available in late June into August.
First let's talk about the run of the mill blackberry. There are actually many different varieties of blackberries but rarely do you see them named in the grocery store. You can also find blackberries growing wild. I had a couple spots in Michigan to visit to pick them and I discovered them at a rest area in Oregon along the Columbia River.
The wild blackberries you pick are normally full of thorns, making it a challenge to pick them. Thornless varieties have been created that are easier to pick. You can find these at some farms.
Most of the blackberries I find the grocery store are more tart than sweet. They have a rich flavor and gel well when you cook with them. One of my favorite things to make with blackberries is a Blackberry Grunt which is made on the stove top instead of inside the oven!
RELATED - What's the Difference Between Blackberries and Black Raspberries
Marionberries
📅 These berries are generally in season from early-mid July to mid August.
The marionberry - the pride of the Pacific Northwest. This variety was bred in the 1950s at Oregon State University. The county that school is in is called Marion, which is why the berries are called that. They are very popular where they are grown and I have never seen them outside this area, unless they were frozen berries.
They are actually a variety of blackberry. The varieties Olallie and Chehalem are the parents of the Marionberry.
When comparing them to the average grocery store blackberry, there are two things I noted:
- The shape
- The flavor
The shape of these berries is best described as conical, which means they are longer than they are wide. Most blackberries you buy are a little longer than wide, but marionberries are exceptionally so. When I first spotted them without seeing a sign yet, I sensed immediately that's what I was looking at.
As for flavor, I find that marionberries are sweeter than most blackberries I have had. The texture is more firm throughout as well, especially if they are freshly picked. I for sure think they are a better out of hand eating berry than a blackberry. They do great for cooking or baking applications as well.
I made an upside cake using wild blackberries, marionberries, and boysenberries. What was interesting about the marionberries is they broke down more, where you couldn't make out the individual berry. Their sweetness shined even more. Great option for homemade jam as well.
Try out my blackberry jam recipe, it uses frozen blackberries but you could use fresh marionberries as well.
Boysenberries
📅 These berries are generally in season from July to August.
When you think boysenberries you probably think of jam. Knott's Berry Farm jam is the one that probably comes to mind. Although in 2024, that jam was actually discounted and for now I am still seeing it in stores.
So what's the deal with Boysenberries? They have a lot in their DNA including blackberry and raspberry along with dewberry and loganberry, two other varieties that I am still looking to try out.
So what makes them different? Let's talk size. These berries are huge. Conical like marionberries however they are more rounded.
When it comes to flavor they are sweet, maybe not as sweet as marionberries, but way sweeter than the common grocery store blackberries. Where I think they really shine is their juiciness. Pop one of these of these in our mouth and a explosion of sweet, juicy flavor will be experienced by all part of your tongue.
These berries like marionberries, also have a limited range. You don't find them going far from where they are grown. This reason has to do with their shippability as other types of blackberries ship way better. While they were cultivated in Southern California, you now find them more widely grown in Oregon and Washington.
Their most common use is jam. Once again talking about the cakes I made with the different varieties, there was no doubt in my mind the clear winner was the boysenberry one. When cooked the berries had an incredible flavor. I actually think they got even better! No wonder people love the jam so much. The berries also held up really well when cooked. You can still make out their shape unlike the marionberry.
Read More About Berries
I certainly love my berries and love to blog about them. Here is a list of my must read posts, that you should check out next:
- What are Saskatoon Berries
- The Pink Lemonade Berry
- Rose Strawberries
- Rose Raspberries
- 9 Things to Know about Wild Blueberries
Have you ever had a fresh marionberry or boysenberries? Leave a comment below and share your experience. I would love to hear from you.
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