Cowberry

Cowberry

Synonyms:
Lingonberry, Foxberry, Lowbush cranberry, Mountain cranberry, Red bilberry, Red whortleberry
Plural:
Cowberries, Foxberries, Lingonberries, Lowbush cranberries, Mountain cranberries, Red bilberries, Red whortleberries
Family:
Ericaceae – Erica family
Species:
Vaccinium vitis-idaea

Origin

The cowberries have their origin in the northern Eurasia. It was known already by the natives of North America as deterrent against chill and remedy with wounds.

Plant

Cowberries grow at small, evergreen half bushes, climbing at the soil and rich-branched. They love damp locations.

Fruit

The fruits are approx. 15 to 20 mm largely, roundish, oval or pear-shaped.

Importations

After the domestic harvest is finished primarily from Sweden and Finland.

Maturity

During the ripeness in September/October the color changes from light green to pink and finally to red. The firm pulp of the cowberries has a reddish colouring, with some varieties till magenta or crimson.

Ingredients

The fruit has a particularly high content in vitamine C. Cowberries stimulate the activity of intestine and bleb.