Hawthorn Berry Powder | Crataegus monogyna

What Is Hawthorn Berry Powder?

Hawthorn berry powder is made from the dried berries, often called haws, of the common hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), a thorny shrub or small tree of the rose family. Hawthorn is native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia, and for centuries it has been planted as a living hedge to mark fields, which is why it is also known as may tree or quickthorn.

In May the hawthorn is covered in white blossom, and in autumn it carries clusters of small, deep red berries, each with a single hard seed. The berries are dried and finely milled into a red-brown powder with a tart, mildly sweet and apple-like taste.

Hawthorn has a rich place in European folklore, where it was associated with May Day celebrations. Its berries have long been used in the kitchen for jellies, syrups, ketchup and fruit leathers, and in China hawthorn fruit (shan zha) is a popular snack and candy.

Today hawthorn berry powder is used to make a quick fruity tea, to add color and tartness to smoothies, yogurt and oatmeal, in baking and energy balls, and in herbal tea blends with rose hips, hibiscus or cinnamon.

Our hawthorn berry powder contains only ground hawthorn berries with nothing added. It is sold by weight, from small packs to bulk.