Content
- Cranberries - the healthy berry from North America
- Cranberry - the crane berry
- Spread the cranberry
- Ingredients and health value
- Tips & Tricks
Cranberries - the healthy berry from North America
Cranberries have only been known in Germany for a few years, but have been part of the diet in the US and Canada since the days of the Pilgrim Fathers. A typical menu for Thanksgiving - one of the most important holidays in North America - consists of a turkey and cranberries.
Cranberry - the crane berry
The Indians have known and valued the cranberry for many centuries not only as a healthy vitamin supplier, but also because of their healing properties. The first North American settlers (known in the US as "Pllgrim Fathers") learned to appreciate the berries as well. They also go back to the name "Cranberry", which goes back to "Crane Berry" - "cranberry". The shape of the flower reminded the Pilgrim Fathers of the head and the beak of a crane. In addition, the berry is referred to as cranberry because of their preferred habitat, but should not be confused with those native to Europe cranberry species. In German supermarkets, the cranberry is sometimes offered as a "culture cowberry", but is not to be confused with this.
Spread the cranberry
The cranberry is originally from the bogs in eastern North America. Because of this, it needs to thrive above all acid soil and a lot of water. The dwarf shrub is native to the Canadian territories of Newfoundland and New Brunswick as well as the US states of Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia, but has meanwhile settled in some German moors, in England and in the Netherlands. Especially in the USA, cranberries are grown industrially on large plantations. Particularly interesting is the industrial harvesting method: Since the fruits are much lighter than water, the cranberry fields are simply flooded with water at harvest time. The fruits are released from the shrubs and carried away.
Ingredients and health value
Cranberries are considered very healthy. They contain per 100 grams
Especially in the US, the tart berries are also used as a traditional remedy (such as juice) u. a. used against urinary tract infections. Their healthy ingredients can be obtained especially by gentle drying or freezing. A raw consumption, however, is not recommended, as the raw berries taste quite dry and sour. However, they are not poisonous, as often claimed.
Tips & Tricks
You can use dried cranberries as a healthy substitute for raisins. They are not as sweet as these, but taste slightly sour. This aroma fits wonderfully in many baked goods such. B. Stollen, but also in the breakfast cereal.