Blueberry, often regarded as Mother Nature’s super antioxidant, ranks as the second favorite fruit in the world after strawberry. From sweet to tart and tangy, blueberries are grown in clusters and range in a size from a pea to a marble. The fruit turns from pale green to dark blue upon ripening.
Types
There are three commonly found varieties of blueberries.
Highbush Blueberries: These are the commonly cultivated and popularly eaten variety of blueberries. This variety of berries is very popular in the U.S. As the name denotes, they can grow as high as 12 feet!
Lowbush Blueberries: Also referred to as ‘wild berries’, they grow less than two feet tall from the ground. The berries of this variety are relatively smaller in size.
Rabbiteye Blueberries: Native to the southern U.S., this variety grows up to 20 feet in height.
Usage
Blueberries are eaten as a fruit or processed into jams, jellies, blueberry pies, etc. Blueberry jam is a very popular condiment made from blueberries, water, sugar and fruit pectin. In a few western countries, blueberry wine made from the flesh and skin of the berry is also available.
Nutritional Value
1. Blueberries are a source of diverse micro nutrients that are required for the human body.
2. Most studies have suggested that blueberries influences blood pressure regulation.
3. The fruit is also low in fat containing only 80 calories.
4. Blueberries are packed with anthocyanins, which imparts it the deep purple color. These are great anti-inflammatories and antioxidants known to prevent cancer, heart diesases, ageing etc.
5. They are also a great source of Vitamin C and since our body cannot store or produce Vitamin C its ideal to chomp on foods loaded with it.
Did you know?
Blueberry is one of only natural foods that are blue in colour.
Blueberries are the official berries of Nova Scotia, Canada.