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Thursday 26 January 2023

Blueberries ... did you know !

Blueberries, in the popular press, blueberries have reached superstar status in terms of their unique health benefits, and with flavours that range from mildly sweet (cultivated) to tart and tangy (wild), blueberries are nutritional stars bursting with nutrition and flavour while being very low in calories.
Blueberries are the fruits of a shrub that belong to the heath (Ericaceae) family. They grow in clusters and range in size from that of a small pea to a marble. They are deep in colour, ranging from blue to maroon to purple-black, and feature a white-gray waxy "bloom" that covers the berry's surface and serves as a protective coat. The skin surrounds a semi-transparent flesh that encases tiny seeds. Blueberries are at their best from May through October when they are in season.


History
Blueberries hold a special place in the foods of North America, since more species of blueberries are native to North America than any other continent. While low-bush berries are native to other parts of the world — including Europe, the Mediterranean and Asia — high-bush berries were originally found almost exclusively in North America. To this day, the United States cultivates and supplies over half of all blueberries on a global basis. The next largest percentage of world production — about 30% — also belongs to a North American country, Canada.

Cultivation of blueberries was widespread among the Native American tribes throughout North America. European colonists learned about blueberries thanks to these Native American traditions and brought blueberry species back to Europe. Yet commercial cultivation of blueberries in Europe has been a relatively recent phenomenon limited to the 20th and 21st centuries. Thanks to increasing cultivation in the Southern Hemisphere — including South American countries such as Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay as well South Africa, New Zealand and Australia — fresh blueberries are now enjoyed throughout the year on many of the world's continents.

How to Select and Store
Choose blueberries that are firm and have a lively, uniform hue coloured with a whitish bloom. Shake the container, noticing whether the berries have the tendency to move freely; if they do not, this may indicate that they are soft and damaged or moldy. Avoid berries that appear dull in color or are soft and watery in texture. They should be free from moisture since the presence of water will cause the berries to decay. When purchasing frozen berries, shake the bag gently to ensure that the berries move freely and are not clumped together, which may suggest that they have been thawed and refrozen.

Before storing remove any crushed or moldy berries to prevent the rest from spoiling. Don't wash berries until right before eating as washing will remove the bloom that protects the berries' skins from degradation. Store ripe blueberries in a covered container in the refrigerator where they will keep for up to 3 days. If kept out at room temperature for more than a day, the berries may spoil.

Ripe berries can also be frozen, although this will slightly change their texture and flavour. Before freezing, wash, drain and remove any damaged berries. To better ensure uniform texture upon thawing, spread the berries out on a cookie sheet or baking pan, place in the freezer until frozen, then put the berries in a plastic bag for storage in the freezer.

Tips for Preparing Blueberries
Fresh berries are very fragile and should be washed briefly and carefully and then gently patted dry if they are not organic. Wash berries just prior to use to not prematurely remove the protective bloom that resides on the skin's surface. If you know the source of either wild or organic berries try not to wash them at all.

When using frozen berries in recipes that do not require cooking, thaw well and drain prior to using.

Blueberries retain their maximum amount of nutrients and their maximum taste when they are enjoyed fresh and not prepared in a cooked recipe.

Do you like blueberries?  Eddie and I enjoy them simply served with double (heavy) cream. 

You may like to try this recipe
Blueberry and Cinnamon Omelette, it's low carb, see it here


This blog brings a variety of articles and recipe ideas, and it is important to note, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health, it is always advisable to consult your doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan

38 comments:

John M said...

I enjoy blueberries in my cereal several times a week

Elephant's Child said...

I do like them. Raw, with other berries.

Anonymous said...

Chatty Crone said...
I LOVE blueberries and I know they are great for you. The recipe - which I LOVE is so easy and I have everything I need. Made a copy of this. Thanks

William Kendall said...

I wouldn't have thought of adding them into an omelette.

happyone said...

Nice to know that something I love is good for me too.

Tom said...

...we bought some blueberries at the market this morning.

Teresa said...

Me gustan los arándanos, alguna vez hice mermelada. Gracias por la receta.

Conniecrafter said...

I really like them when mixed with other things, it's good how to know what are the best to buy.

J.P. Alexander said...

Adoro los arándanos. Gracias por la receta. Te mando un beso.

Holly said...

I enjoy semi frozen blueberries as a snack, and also in a bowl mixed with pineapple chunks and peanut butter.

Christine said...

Thanks for the tips

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Blueberry fan since a toddler. Families back then foraged blueberries all around New England. Today, frozen blueberries are in my regular menu. With milk and a bit of sugar or honey, a frozen blueberry ice is a treat.

OLga said...

Adoro i mirtilli nello yogurt.

Jo said...

I love blueberries but I've never considered adding them to an omelette. I especially love them with pancakes though.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,
Oh yes, I love blueberries. I add them to my Greek yogurt.
I would have never thought to add them to a omelet, that's different.
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

Donna said...

Blueberry muffins...a favorite!
hugs
Donna

R's Rue said...

So delicious.

Breathtaking said...

Hello :=)

I love blueberry pie, although it stains my teeth,:=( and also enjoy a few on my cereal. Thank you for the recipe. I would not have thought to use them in an omelette. I'm going to copy the recipe right now, because i enjoy an omelette, and I know blueberries are good for you.
All the best.

Sondra said...

def love blue berries.

Jeanie said...

I love blueberries and when the weather is good, Michigan is one of the leading blueberry states and you'll often see blueberry farms in the southwest part of the state. So many tasty things to make with blueberries!

Inger said...

I just learned something new: Forest floors in Sweden are covered in what we call blabar, which would translate to blueberries. After reading your post, I checked them out and found they are really bilberries. An English word I've never heard of before.
And it's true, the Swedish berries are different from our American blueberries, smaller,darker in color, but both kinds taste equally good, as far as I can remember.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

And you have posted about our favorite berry, but then I am also very fond of raspberries, which unfortunately are more delicate. The blueberry omelette is something new to me, but may be worth a future try as we always have blueberries in the fridge.

DUTA said...

Our blueberries are imported from Chile. I eat them and savor them as they are without adding them to other food items.

Valerie-Jael said...

I love blueberries! Have a great weekend, Valerie

pam nash said...

I love blueberries. They are my all-time favorite fruit. When they aren't in season, I buy frozen and have them on my cereal or oatmeal - like eating a blueberry popsicle with breakfast!

It's me said...

Yammie yammie…happy weekend love from me 🍀❤️🐾🍀

CJ Kennedy said...

Delicious

Mary Kirkland said...

I do love to snack on blueberries once in a while.

https://linsartyblobs.blogspot.com said...

I usually have blueberries on my porridge.
I have memories of a different kind of blueberry when I was a child which you don't see anymore. They were tastier than the ones I buy now. Maybe they were billberries.

DeniseinVA said...

I have never thought of putting blueberries in an omelet, such a great idea! Blueberries are always on my shopping list, I love them!

Pam said...

I have learned more than I knew. Personally, I love BLUEBERRIES. I have learned to be able to keep on hand, I buy frozen. I found that I like the best ones from Wally World that are considered wild. Big ole bag for 8 bucks some odd cents. I usually grab to bags while I am at it. I drink water all through the day, but plain water is not my thing, so I put blueberries and oranges or lemon in mine. So everytime I head to the fridge for water, I squeeze a couple slices of cara oranges in the glass, pour in blueberries and add water. I finish up the fruit once I finish the water.....and it goes on and on. Maybe more fruit than I need but I will not drink water any other way.

aussie aNNie said...

Blueberries are what I have everymorning with my added bowl of fruits xx

baili said...

Enjoyed learning about blue berries dear Jan specially all the history was unknown to me.

I j learned that blue berries hardly grow in our country which is sad :(

Hope someday they will and will be in reach of common people

Lorrie said...

We LOVE blueberries and enjoy them almost every morning with plain yogurt and nuts (for me) and granola (for my husband). We have 5 bushes of blueberries in our garden and I freeze them for use throughout the year. I won't buy out of season berries as they lack so much taste - I prefer eating them fresh in season and frozen when not.

carol l mckenna said...

Great post about blueberries ~ one of my favorite fruits ~ Xo

Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

My name is Erika. said...

I am big fan of blueberries, especially the tiny ground native ones found around where I live. Thanks for this post!

Divers and Sundry said...

New information for me, thanks. I enjoy blueberries regularly but never cook them.

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

Hi Jan! I do include a handful of blueberries every morning into my bowl of mixed berries. The omelet sounds so interesting. Thank you for all the information.