Sea buckthorn is a shrub that grows no more than three metres high and enjoys the sunshine of northern Europe where soils are sandy and rocky or the land is mineral-poor. It can be found growing wild on the coasts of the Gulf of Bothnia and the Åland Islands. For these reasons, Ponthier turned to small Finnish producers to source its sea buckthorn berries. The berries are picked by hand in August. It's a difficult and delicate harvest due to the thorns and density of the bushes. Growing sea buckthorn on small plots of land provides additional income for the farmers and their production is mainly destined for the food industry. Europeans began to eat dried sea buckthorn berries for their high vitamin content and the fruit soon became popular with those who like acidic flavours. Ponthier sea buckthorn purée has a beautiful vibrant orange colour and a fragrance of ripe citrus notes. In Russia, the fruit is used in sweet and savoury dishes, hot teas, cocktails, sauces, pies and desserts.