Not common to the humid environment of the Fraser Valley, the
soapberry was a staple import for the Stó:lō people from the
Thompson people of the Interior. These berries were traded as
berry cakes, dried, or in the raw form. Soapberries are used to
create Indian ice cream , a mixture of whipped soapberries,
water, and a sweetener. The sweetening agent is typically made
from other berries, blue camas or refined sugars. The process of
making the ice cream is similar to whipping egg whites, and the
final Indian ice cream has very similar qualities.