Quick one for you today - no big reveal – yet - but watch this space, we've got a couple of things brewing. Today is just a reminder about our favourite flavonoid - anthocyanins.
Here's a great fact - the Ainu people of Hokkaido, Northern Japan, have used haskap berries in traditional medicine for centuries, calling it the "berry of long life." A nice reminder that some of what we're now studying, people have quietly known for a very long time.
A quick refresher
Anthocyanins are the pigments behind the deep purple, blue and red in foods like blackcurrants, red cabbage, blueberries, and haskap. They sit within the flavonoid family and are among the most researched plant compounds in nutrition science, with active research interest spanning cardiovascular markers, cognitive function, inflammation and healthy ageing.
The anthocyanin profile of haskap
Not all "anthocyanin-rich" berries are made equal, and this is where it gets interesting. Some laboratory analysis has put haskap at around four times the anthocyanin content of the high-bush blueberry, and that's before you get to what makes up that content.
Within haskap's own phenolic profile, anthocyanins are just one flavonoid subclass (alongside flavonols and flavan-3-ols, plus phenolic acids like chlorogenic acid sitting outside the flavonoid family) - but it's the subclass that matters most here.Within the anthocyanins themselves, it's really a two-compound story:cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G), which accounts for roughly 79–92% of total anthocyanin content and over 60% of total polyphenols in the berry, and a smaller contribution fromcyanidin-3-rutinoside. C3G is also one of the most extensively studied anthocyanins individually, so when you're pointing a patient toward haskap, you're pointing them toward a well-characterised compound.
Why Haskapa specifically
·Concentration: our latest lab analysis found 2,750–3,500mg of anthocyanins per 100g, delivering roughly 82.5–105mg in a single 3g serving
·Consistency: every batch is tested, so you can trust what you're recommending, even with natural seasonal variation
·Format: freeze-dried whole berries, not an isolated extract - food-first, nothing synthetic
·Usability: one spoon into yoghurt, porridge or a smoothie. The science only matters if someone actually takes it, and this is not only practical, it tastes delicious!
What's next
Over the coming weeks, expect more focused material: deeper dives into particular areas of interest, practical resources including recipes and client resources. And of course unveiling some exciting new additions to the Haskapa family.
In the meantime, please let us know anything you may want to hear.
The evidence
For those who want to go straight to source, here's some of the research behind today's email:
·Bell, Lynne, and Claire M. Williams. “A Pilot Dose–Response Study of the Acute Effects of Haskap Berry Extract (Lonicera Caerulea L.) On Cognition, Mood, and Blood Pressure in Older Adults.” European Journal of Nutrition, vol. 58, no. 8, 10 Dec. 2018, pp. 3325–3334, 10.1007/s00394-018-1877-9.
·Borda, Miguel German, et al. “Anthocyanin Supplementation in Adults at Risk for Dementia: A Randomized Controlled Trial on Its Cardiometabolic and Anti-Inflammatory Biomarker Effects.” GeroScience, 2 May 2025, 10.1007/s11357-025-01669-8.
·Mohammadi, Nima, et al. “Effectiveness of Anthocyanin-Containing Foods and Nutraceuticals in Mitigating Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Cardiovascular Health-Related Biomarkers: A Systematic Review of Animal and Human Interventions.” Food & Function, vol. 15, no. 7, Feb. 2024, pp. 3274–3299, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38482946/, 10.1039/d3fo04579j. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.
·Rupasinghe, H.P. Vasantha, et al. “The Potential Health Benefits of Haskap ( Lonicera Caerulea L.): Role of Cyanidin-3- O -Glucoside.” Journal of Functional Foods, vol. 44, May 2018, pp. 24–39, 10.1016/j.jff.2018.02.023.
