Hello my dear readers,
I hope you all are ok. Today let’s discover another staple of our food, let’s discover the blueberries.
Blueberry, forest fruit among the most greedy and healthy, in the scientific world it is known by the name of Vaccinium Myrtillus from Ericaceae family, has ancient origins and is used to treat various pathologies.
Unknown in ancient Mediterranean civilizations, it is found in mountain areas, in the woods where the soil is rich in humus.
Blueberry history
Blueberry cultivation was widespread among Native American tribes. European settlers learned about the cultivation and use of blueberries from Native American traditions, bringing this species to Europe. Commercial blueberry cultivation in Europe was a relatively recent phenomenon around the twentieth century.
Blueberries are not “foods” to be eaten one by one, but in handfuls, and one is not satisfied until when the tongue, lips and hands have turned to a Tuareg blue.
Blueberries are the best pretext to gather in happy company and go singing in the mountains, and yes, I did it too when I was a kid.
It is, so to speak, a “social” fruit.
In the summer tradition of the mountains, there was “blueberry Sunday”, a day dedicated to frivolity, when young men and girls with buckets had to pick the fruits, but instead dedicated themselves to flirting and dancing. Those who collected the blueberries were the mothers, who then used them to make jams.
I had the great opportunity in my childhood to join these group of young men and girls picking blueberries and I had a wonderful and happy time.
The taste of the fruit is sweet-sour, the spontaneous ones have more accentuated aroma and acidity.
In general, the fruits can be black, red and blue, and in all three cases they represent a source of food but are used also as a medicine.
Blueberry, as a spontaneous plant in the northern hemisphere has about 130 species.
According to some recent research, these small berries are equipped with a huge amount of antioxidants, which are therefore able to prevent cardiovascular diseases, protect against tumors and delay the natural ageing process.
Blueberries are the elixir of a long life. A thousand properties in a small fruit.
The plant
Vaccinium myrtillus is a small shrub with erect and branched stems. The leaves have a short petiole while the flowers, which bloom in spring, are pendulous and white. The fruit is a blue berry with a slightly acidic flavor.
Blueberries are on the market all year round. Out of season, both fresh and frozen are found.
Blueberries Cultivation
The species that is most suitable for cultivation is the American Blueberry.
Blueberry is a plant that resists winter cold well even if frosts can ruin flowers and berries. It is therefore advisable to grow it in a place sheltered from the weather, while in summer it is good to avoid exposure to direct sun as the blueberry roots are very sensitive to drought.
The soil must be well drained to avoid water stagnation, free of weeds and have an acid pH (about 5). Since it is difficult to grow blueberries from seeds, it is recommended to take the seedlings in a nursery and then transplant them into a larger pot or in the garden.
The best time to buy seedlings is towards the end of autumn, to then be transplanted in early spring.
During fruiting, which runs from March to October, the blueberry needs regular watering, making sure that the soil is dry between one irrigation and another. The berries are harvested during the summer season when they turn purple / dark red in color.
In North America the cultivation of the giant blueberry has assumed truly respectable proportions and it is estimated that the blueberries cover an area of over eight thousand hectares with an average annual production that exceeds three hundred thousand quintals and with a proceeds that oscillates around 20 million dollars / US .
For some time the cultivation of the giant blueberry has been introduced in New Zealand and Australia. In Europe the largest blueberries are found in Germany (about 700 hectares) in the moors located between Hanover and Hamburg. In Italy, blueberry crops do not exceed ten hectares by far, while they could extend to much wider territories, including hilly areas, now partially abandoned.
How to choose blueberries
If you do not have the opportunity to harvest them directly from the plant, when you buy them in the supermarket or from the greengrocer you have to choose blueberries with firm and bright blue berries.
How to store blueberries
Before washing and storing blueberries, it is necessary to eliminate those that are too soft which could generate mold.
Before washing, it is recommended to remove the remains of the stalk which has a bitter taste.
Blueberries can be stored although it is preferable to wash and consume them at the moment.
Refrigerated storage
If you want to keep the blueberries in the refrigerator, I recommend keeping them in the tray in which they were sold or in a basket that has holes to allow the passage of air. After that you need to put a paper towel on the bottom to absorb the excessive humidity. Blueberries are kept in the refrigerator for about five days in the intermediate or low shelf. Better to avoid the top one, too cold.
Storage in the freezer
Another method of storing blueberries and having them available at any time of the year is to freeze them. It is necessary to put the fruits in the freezer on a tray avoiding that they touch each other. After about three hours they can be put in a hermetically sealed freezer bag. They can be kept in the freezer for about a year.
And because this post is becoming too long, I’ll stop here for now but stay tuned to see how to eat the blueberries and what benefits brings to our body.
Thank you all for reading.
And if you would like to discover more about our food, you may enjoy my previous posts
Wish you a wonderful day!
And please stay at home and stay safe!
Follow me on Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest
Love, R
Blue berries are yummy. I love the yogurt. Happy Tuesday 🙂😊
I’m glad you like them 😉 Thank you!
Very informative
Thank you for reading 😊
We used to go blueberry picking when I used to live in Latvia. The forests were bursting with all sorts of berries and we usually gathered 100’s of litres over the course of the summer. And all that for free. Now we have to pay 2.99 for 125 g punnet 🙈
So true! I’m glad I had the chance to go blueberries picking too 🤪 So much fun 🤪
I used to eat so many…until my mouth was all blue-violet 🤪🤪
I don’t think we have them over here
Oh really? I thought can be found everywhere in the world 🤪
This made me check, Ribana. They are apparently a very recent crop for us.
Hmmm 🤔 I thought they will grow everywhere around the woods but apparently not 🤪
I’m glad that at least now you still can find them 😉
These are yummy fruit with it’s own health benefits. It’s very pricey here in our country. Small but the benefit is very big, here certain cancer patients will be asked to consume blueberries everyday. An interesting and informative post indeed, hope your stay at home helps you a lot. Happy family time✨ And WFH.. Have a beautiful week ahead ✨💐🤗
Thank you very much Simon for reading and for your time!
Even here are not very cheap, much more expensive than when I used to pick them up by myself free of charge 🤪
I’m not going out so it’s pretty cool to work from home 😉
Have a wonderful day Simon!
Stay safe and stay healthy! 🤗🤩
My favorite way to eat blueberries is right off the bush with my grandkids picking next to me! Then, we put them in a glass of milk and eat them with a touch of sugar the way I did when I was a kid.
That’s beautiful Dorothy!
I used to eat them right from the bush too 😉
So delicious 😉😋
Blueberries are the best pretext to gather in happy company and go singing in the mountains, and yes, I did it too when I was a kid.
It is, so to speak, a “social” fruit.
Exactly! Happy memories 😉
I love blueberries. We have wild ones here in Ontario. They are more expensive to buy and are smaller but a wonderful flavor and not too sweet.
Thank you Anne! I’m glad you like them!
The ones I used to pick them were smaller too but much more flavourful 😉
I was just reading about all the benefits of blueberries the other day. It’s interesting to learn about their history. I really enjoy these posts!
Thank you very much Michelle! Yes, we have so many things to discover about our food 😉
Quite detailed and informative post about Blueberries. The best part is you have to eat it “handful” Haha.
Oh yes 🤪 Thank you very much!
Picking blueberries is one of my favorite outdoor activity in the summer. <3 we collect buckets of them and freeze it for the whole year of smoothies haha 😀
That’s wonderful! You are really lucky! Was a wonderful experience for me too when I was a kid 😉💕🤗
Blueberry farming is limited in places in India we rarely get it in grocery shops !! Very informative post !! Thank you for sharing friend !! 👌💕
I’m sorry are so limited there! Are really delicious and super healthy! Still the climate and nature is pretty much the same as Europe…strange there aren’t 👀
Thank you very much for reading! 🌸😉
Yes it is farmed in some areas but there are some places where we might get them !! Thank you very much for your interaction friend !! 😊💕