Lingonberry

Origin / growing areas

Eurasia is the home of the lingonberry (also known as the partridgeberry), which is found mostly in the forests of Scandinavia and on the moors and heaths of Central Europe.

Description

The lingonberry is a Scandinavian relative of the American cranberry. It is also referred to as the “red gold of the land” in Sweden. Lingonberries grow on perennial winter-cover plants.

Distinctive features

Lingonberries are especially rich in antioxidants, which are said to have a protective effect on cells. The fruit also contains a number of natural acids – including benzoic acid, which contributes to the particularly long shelf-life of their juice. They also contain relatively high levels of vitamin C.

Fruit

Lingonberries are round to oval fruits measuring roughly one centimetre in diameter. They vary in colour from pale red to scarlet. The flesh contains very little juice, but many small seeds.

Flavour

The berries taste tart-sour to bitter (astringent). Thus they are seldom eaten raw, but offered most often as compote or used by juice producers in combination with other fruits in fruit juices, fruit beverages and smoothies.

Other fruits

… that lingonberries are an important and beneficial ingredient in the functional Marli Vital Health Shots produced by Eckes-Granini in Finland?