Photographer Reveals Where to Find Large Cloudberries

For Murmansk photographer Anton Chaiko, picking cloudberries has long been a cherished family tradition. He has been gathering the berry since his school years — for more than 20 years in a row. Usually he manages to collect between 20 and 40 liters per season, but this year he decided to limit himself to 25 liters, as last year«s supplies proved sufficient.

“Every year there are leftover cloudberries, so I decided not to pick too many,” Anton Chaiko told 51.RU.

The photographer does not sell the cloudberries. He eats part of the harvest right during his trips, and makes jam from the rest using his own recipe. According to Anton, it turns out thick, aromatic, and somewhat reminiscent of peach.

“There are a lot of cloudberries on the coast”

Anton searched for his berry spots in various areas of the Kola Peninsula. Previously, he had to head into the tundra for several days for cloudberries, get there by boat, and sometimes even carry them on his head across several kilometers of impassable terrain.

Over time, the photographer concluded that the most convenient and richest spots are on the Murmansk coast. Here, the berry patches can be reached by boat, and along the way one can see marine animals and picturesque northern landscapes.

Cloudberries do not grow here only in bogs, as is commonly believed. According to Anton, large and productive patches can be found on the slopes of hills and in the mountain tundra — in ravines and on terraces where moisture accumulates.

The photographer cites a large number of birds as an additional factor. They enrich the soil, and the nitrogen-rich earth promotes a good harvest.

Going for cloudberries — by boat

This year, the road to the berry spots was also full of impressions. On the way, Anton encountered a sailing vessel in Kola Bay that, as it turned out, was participating in the All-Russian Regatta.

“I got into the boat — and it was beautiful. Along the way I took photos, met whales, seals, all sorts of interesting things,” he said.

After reaching the shore, the photographer left the boat and climbed the hills, where he gathered his harvest. However, during such trips one must also keep wild animals in mind: bears are found on the coast. According to Anton, there were none in the area he chose this time.

The photographer now shares his knowledge of the coast with tourists as well. He conducts sea excursions and organizes trips along the Kola coast, sometimes treating guests to his own cloudberry jam.

Anton says that properly made jam can be stored for years; the main thing is to use a good glass jar and a reliable lid.

Recall that residents of the Arctic show full baskets of mushrooms and share what can currently be found in the forests. Earlier, we told you which mushrooms are already being sold on classified ad sites in Murmansk and for how much.

Northerners shared what is happening with mushrooms in the Murmansk region. Earlier, we told you which mushrooms residents of the Murmansk region were gathering. Besides mushrooms, cloudberries have already begun to ripen in the region, and they can be bought online.

We also showed how much berries, mushrooms, and greens cost at the Pervomaysky Market in Murmansk. 51.RU talked to gardeners in Murmansk; they told us what labor goes into growing their harvest and how they set prices for their goods.