berry picking in Iceland
They are super healthy, super delicious, and the best thing: here in Iceland, they are free! Picking berries or “berjamór” is a fun activity for everyone and almost an Icelandic national sport. Whether you turn it into a relaxing and meditative outdoor experience or make a demanding physical workout of it, is up to you. Our berry picking guide shows you how to find the native superfood and be part of the fun!
Berjamór is probably one of the most genuine Icelandic activities but is often overlooked by tourists. Picking berries is a great opportunity to experience Icelandic nature, exercise, relax, and have a chat with locals. Once a necessity, wild berries have enriched many long winters with vitamin c and deliciousness. Nowadays, foraging in Iceland is mostly a lot of fun and a great family activity.
Between the middle of August and the middle of September, Icelanders take their buckets and spend hours and hours in the fields. The start of the berry season depends on how the weather in last year’s fall and the passing summer has been. Berries need warmth, sun, but also rain to flourish. The sunnier and warmer, the earlier they will be ripe. In some years, berry season starts as soon as the end of July, and sometimes the berries aren’t big enough until the end of August. Ask a local about it, and you’ll get an extensive answer (Icelanders love to talk about the weather).
Berry pickers are scattered all over the country, and a good spot seldomly stays secret for long. But before you get lost in the wild, here are two tips for finding a good place: First, ask locals. Though some berry pickers are secretive about their favorite spots, they’ll probably still recommend one that is worth checking out. Second, if you see a group of parked cars and people walking about in a field slowly and bent over: that is a berry spot, and there is enough for everyone, so get in there!
Please note: on public land, everybody is allowed to collect berries. On private property, however, only the handful of berries for immediate consumption is legal. Some regions also have special rules on using berry pickers, so it’s better to just pluck by hand.
We have many different types of berries that grow wild in Iceland. People often hesitate to pick berries due to the fear of eating the wrong ones. But don’t be afraid: there are no poisonous berries in Iceland.
is glossy and dark in color, almost turning black. They are dark red on the inside, juicier, and sweeter than bog bilberries. Though one can find the
European blueberries grow all over Iceland, they are most common in the west and north and taste great – in everything!
is small, black, and firm, and easy to spot on the light green branches you’ll find them on. The crowberry is less sensitive to frost and can also be picked later in autumn.
Their acidity complements the sweetness of other berries, and they are therefore often used for jellies and juices.
is purple and matte, with green and/or white pulp and sweet.
They are very versatile, and you’ll find a great variety of bog bilberry produce in Iceland: liqueur, skyr, jams, cakes, ice cream, desserts, beer, and juices. And have you ever tried bilberry-soup? Here’s your chance!
are bitter and best picked after frost, which is said to make them sweeter. They shouldn’t be eaten raw due to light toxicity. But due to their high content of antioxidants and vitamin c, they were an important part of medicine throughout history. Nowadays, we find them most often cooked into jams and jellies.
is a rosaceous plant with acidic and deeply red berries. Their sour and sweet flavor make heavenly jams and jellies that fit exceptionally well with venison. They also add a special something to refreshing syrups and drinks!
is not the kind of berry one eats in handfuls. They are best dried and used in cooking, especially for sauces served with venison. For the ones who like it stronger: Juniper berries also play the leading role in the production of gin.
