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Alaskan Foods
EVERY PLACE IN THE WORLD HAS ITS OWN CULINARY SPECIALTY. They're
often related to the foods that grow there naturally (such as cod fish in
Newfoundland) or brought throughout history (such as potatoes in Ireland). Many
cultures developed exquisite foods through necessity (such as delicious organ meat
dishes in France) or seemingly by pure luck (beers and wines everywhere.)
So it's a traveller's treat to experience the foods traditionally made and eaten there.
You can learn a deeper appreciation for the local culture if you're willing to eat
outside of your comfort zone. It's one of the great reasons to travel and can free you
from prejudices you didn't even know you had!
Modern Alaskan Food Specialties
Here at Alaska Wild Berry Products, our favorites are the amazing wild berries.
Some of our berries might be familiar to you – like our wild blueberries (smaller and
sweeter than the blueberries you can buy) and wild cranberries (which we call high
bush cranberries). We also enjoy salmonberries which look like raspberries but are
yellow or orange and have a completely different flavor. Don't miss the delicious
mossberries (also called crowberries,) lingonberries (also called low bush
cranberries,) and watermelon berries.
All of these are used for homemade berry jams and berry jellies. And of course we
also use them here to make our famous Wild Berry Jelly Center Chocolates. To
learn more about Alaskan berries, see the Berries We Use.
Alaska's cold water seafood is the centerpiece of Alaskan cuisine. Alaskan salmon
is one of the most important foods here and is often served as smoked salmon, cured
salmon, salmon jerky, and even sweetened indian salmon candy. The Alaskan salmon
and halibut fishing industry brings tourists from all over the world, but it's probably
the Alaskan King Crab that most people think of first. Unlike the smaller dungeness or
blue crabs found in the lower 48 states, a single Alaskan King Crab can easily feed a
whole hungry family.
Alaska hunters enjoy bagging large game animals such as moose, caribou, elk,
or bear. You might not be familiar with those meats but they form the basis of many
people's daily protein, especially for people who live outside of the main cities.
And of course there are the famous reindeer. Many people know reindeer have
been an important food source in Alaska but did you know they are not native?
Reindeer were brought to Alaska from Siberia starting in 1892. The idea was to
provide a new food industry for Native Alaskans whose whaling grounds were running
dry. Reindeer is no longer a major source of meat but can still be enjoyed in the form
of commercially available sausage.
Sourdough bread is so popular that the word "sourdough" is slang for a person who
lives in Alaska! This started during the Klondike Gold Rush when everyone kept a pot
of sourdough starter in their kitchens. By "feeding" the starter with a little new flour
every few days they kept the wild yeast alive and thriving so they could bake bread
whenever they wanted. It's said people would even bring the pot to bed on cold
nights to keep it from freezing!
As you might imagine, there were not very many plant foods available. Some that
were or still are important are "negaasget", "uutngungsaat", "iitat", "marallat", and
"mouse food" which are different roots cooked in soup. All sorts of berries are also
gathered, as are the soft inner bark of the birch tree, and "ayuq" which is a plant
which can be made into a kind of tea.
Fish, moose and caribou are also preserved by drying. Often, the dried meat is
dipped in seal oil.
Eskimo Ice Cream (also known as "akutaq") is a fancy name for a hearty dish
you probably haven't heard of. Natives used to make this unusual dish by whipping
the fat of hunted reindeer, seals, or bears, then adding snow and wild native berries.
Sugar wasn't available then but it would probably be a nice addition. Nowadays it is
made with crisco and is mixed with berries, mouse food, dried meat, and other
vegetables depending on what is available.
Many thanks to Marty Baston and his children who helped us learn about these foods.