Have you ever tried Garden Huckleberries?

[cteavin]

One of the many benefits of the Internet is being able to connect with people online who cultivate heirloom varieties and less common fruits and vegetables. The other day I found something called Garden Huckleberries and I just assumed they were the same huckleberries as Huckleberry Finn's namesake. Nope. I bit into one after they arrived and they were worse than Death on my tongue. 

 

After a little reading I found out they are a variety of nightshade and unrelated to anything Twainian. They have to be cooked. Then have to be sweetened. And what a transformation that was!

 

The initial smell reminded me of bad fish but as they cooked, the smell softened, and after I added the sugar I regretted not buying more. They don't really taste like anything else, they have their own unique flavor. I'd say I like them a bit less than raspberries but much more than blue and blackberries. Anyway, I turned half into a filling for fried pies and made the rest into jam. Now I'm just debating if I want to buy some more for later or wait till next year. 

 

Has anyone here tried Garden Huckleberries? What did you make with them? If you haven't, keep an eye out.