Growing up in Georgia, I never heard of an ollalieberry until I moved out to California. My first encounter with this strange name came as I rode my motorcycle up Highway 1 from Los Angeles to San Francisco. As I rolled my way through the town of Cambria, I saw a sign advertising "OLLALIEBERRY PIE." Curious, I decided to brake for pie. I discovered that the slice of ollalieberry pie was very similar to blackberry pie, but just a little bit different.
Ingredient Spotlight: Ollalieberries
As it turns out, ollalieberries are a West Coast thing. Developed in Oregon in 1935, they are a cross between a loganberry and a youngberry. Both of these parent berries are crosses of blackberries with raspberries and dewberries, so it's kind of like the blackberry is the "grandparent" of ollalieberries. The berry didn't grow so well in Oregon in spite of being developed there, but it has been prolific in California.
These berries have a very short seasonal window; they're usually available for two or three weeks at the beginning of June, depending on weather conditions - generally, they're available between May and July. They look like blackberries in that they are clusters of black globes filled with juice and seeds, but they are longer and slimmer than blackberries and just as sweet, but a little tangier.
They can be used in any recipe calling for blackberries, from pies to cobblers to jams.
(Image: Riley's Farm, a working farm in Southern California where you can pick your own fruits and vegetables.)
Comments (7)
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Very interesting. These are the same size and colour as the berries sold here in Toronto as blackberries. I've never found them that delicious - just tart and juicy. Maybe I've never actually had a true blackberry and that's why I'm not impressed.
YOu've inspired me to reconsider the biases I wrote about in this post:
http://danamccauley.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/berry-nice/
view Dana McCauley's profile
Pick your own at Gizdich Ranch. I grew up on these. They make the best Jam. If your in the Santa Cruz area, check it out.
55 Peckham Road
Watsonville CA
95076
831-722-1056
http://www.gizdich-ranch.com/index.php?gr=berries
view obdimples's profile
I have fond memories of picking ollalieberries with my family. My mom would (and still does) make jelly out of them and I beg for some every time I go home to visit.
I even found where we used to go: Phipps country store and farm in Pescadero.
http://www.phippscountry.com/
view Dan O's profile
I LOVE Ollalieberries (I call them Lollyberries just for kicks). Next year, let's make some jam!
kim
view Kimberlita Paternosky's profile
These look exactly like the Marionberries we have in the Willamette Valley. They are superb for cobblers, scones and topped with yogurt. Yum! (And easy to grow.)
view lona's profile
I was lucky enough to find the last few ollalieberries this year at Swanton Farms near Santa Cruz..(chronicled the jam picking and making on my blog Cheeky Chilli). I loved the taste of ollalieberries, tart and sweet, perhaps a bit more tart than blackberries...lovely!!
view Chilli's profile
I second going to Gizdich! I have a jar of Ollalieberry Jam from them in my fridge right now.
I never knew they were special to us here . More to love about Santa Cruz :)
view Karensue's profile