tayberries

Imagine a cross between a blackberry and a raspberry – a berry that’s sweet with a tart edge, and a whole lot of delicious. That’s the tayberry. And the best part? You can pick them yourself on several farms across the Netherlands.

Grab a basket, gather your crew (kids, partner, or just your sunhat), and head out to a “pluktuin” (pick-your-own garden) or a fruit farm that grows these elongated, deep red to purple gems. The season runs from late June to early August. The fun starts when you spot the long, arching canes; they are thorny, so gloves can come in handy. Tayberries are surprisingly delicate and plump, so handle them with care and use a shallow container. The rule of thumb: if they slide off the stem with the gentlest tug, they’re ready. If you have to wrestle, or there is still green or white at the base, leave them on the plant a little longer. Picking them is a game of patience and treasure hunting – you’ll find some hiding under leaves, blushing a deep maroon. By the end, your fingers will be stained, your baskets full, and everyone will be sneak-eating a few (no judgment – it’s part of the experience).

Back home: What to do with your haul?

Tayberries are perfect fresh, but they’re divas – they don’t last long. Keep them unwashed in the fridge in a single layer and eat them within 2–3 days, rinsing them gently just before use. Or freeze them on a tray (so they don’t clump) and bag them up. Use them anywhere you’d use raspberries or blackberries: on yogurt, in porridge, over ice cream, or as a sneaky topping for pancakes.

Two Cooking Recipes

1. Tayberry & Vanilla Jam A jam that tastes like summer in a jar.

500 g tayberries
300 g preserving sugar (or regular sugar with pectin)
1 vanilla pod, split and scraped
Juice of half a lemon Place berries, sugar, vanilla seeds (and pod) in a heavy pot. Add lemon juice. Simmer gently, stirring, until the berries soften and the mixture thickens (about 15–20 minutes). Test for set by putting a spoonful on a cold plate – if it wrinkles when pushed, it’s done. Pour into sterilized jars. Keep in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.

2. Grilled Pork Chops with Tayberry Sauce Pork and tart berries are a dream team.

2 thick pork chops
1 shallot, finely chopped
150 g tayberries (fresh or frozen)
1 tbsp honey or brown sugar
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Butter & oil Season chops with salt and pepper. Grill or pan-fry until cooked (about 5 minutes per side). Remove and rest. In the same pan, soften shallot in a knob of butter. Add tayberries, honey, and balsamic, stirring until the berries burst and the sauce thickens (2–3 minutes). Spoon over the chops. Serve with mashed potatoes or a crisp salad.

Fruithof De struikrover

fruit, berries, flowers, vegetables, herbs

friesland

Fruithof de Struikrover in Oldeholtpade is a pick-your-own farm growing over 20 types of fruit, mostly berries. The main crops are blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries, along with less common varieties such as tayberries, honeyberries, aronia berries, jostaberries, Japanese wineberries, elderberries, rosehips, gooseberries, quinces, medlars, sea buckthorn and figs. The farm also has flowers for picking, including marigolds, cornflowers and sunflowers. The farm is open for picking from mid-June to mid-September, with the season running on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 09.00 to 17.00. Outside the picking season, the farm is open on Saturdays for buying cuttings, shrubs, seeds and young plants. All produce is grown organically without pesticides.

Pluktuin van Geesje

fruit, vegetables, flowers, herbs, berries, nuts

noord-holland

Pluktuin van Geesje in Oudkarspel is a pick-your-own farm where visitors harvest fruit, vegetables, flowers and oyster mushrooms directly from the fields and orchards. The farm grows over 30 varieties of apples and pears, along with plums, hazelnuts, walnuts, and soft fruit such as raspberries, blackcurrants, gooseberries and strawberries. Vegetables include beans, peas, pumpkins, courgettes and leafy greens like rocket. Flowers available for picking include dahlias, sunflowers and mixed bouquets.

De Jachthoeve

fruit, flowers, berries

gelderland

De Jachthoeve in Wekerom is a pick-your-own farm with a fruit orchard and flower field. From June to November, visitors can pick their own fruit, including strawberries, raspberries, red, white and green gooseberries, red, black and blue currants, kiwi berries, honeyberries, blackberries, tayberries, boysenberries and plums. The farm also grows flowers for picking until the first frost. You pick fruit directly from the plants and pay for what you take. The farm provides picking baskets, and scissors are available for cutting flowers. The fruit is also sold in the farm shop, along with homemade jams and dessert sauces made from the orchard’s produce. If you want a larger quantity, you can call ahead to arrange it.

Plukkerij Framblij

fruit, vegetables, berries

zuid-holland

Plukkerij Framblij in Monster is a pick-your-own farm where you can harvest over 15 types of fruit and vegetables, including raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, tayberries, grapes, courgettes, peppers and tomatoes. The season runs from early June until mid-autumn half-term, with the farm shop remaining open daily until November. You must book a two-hour slot in advance through the website. Entry costs €4 per person, with children under two free. You pay for what you pick—typically €1.50 per 100 grams for fruit, while some vegetables are priced per item. The farm provides containers and scissors; you can take home as many boxes as you like. Picking is possible in two greenhouses and outdoors, with information boards explaining how to harvest each crop. After picking, you pay at the tea garden, where you can also buy coffee, tea, homemade muffins and ice cream. There are indoor and outdoor seating areas, a playground, a sandpit, a small petting zoo and a vintage second-hand shop.