Cranberry or American cranberry is a small berry with great beneficial properties.
There is nothing comparable to this fruit, it is unique in the world.
One of the only three fruits native to North America, the cranberry grows wild on evergreen shrubs and in sandy soils rich in water that, during the harvest, between May and October, offer an exceptional chromatic show.
More than 680,000 tonnes of cranberry are produced worldwide every year.
The United States of America is the largest blueberry producer in the world and Canada, particularly in Quebec, comes second with over 160,000 tons of annual production.
The history of Cranberry
Native Americans were the first to discover this precious red berry and all its beneficial effects confirmed today by science. By mixing cranberry or cranberry with other ingredients they created a food, pemmicana, that could last up to 10 years. They believed in its medicinal value and used the berry in the poultices to extract the poison from the wounds of the arrows. The rich red juice was used as a natural dye for carpets, blankets and clothes.
It was the first German and Dutch settlers who began to call it Cranberry, “crane berry”, because of the flower’s resemblance to the head and beak of a crane.
The beneficial effects of cranberry
Health Canada classifies it among the functional elements, that is, those foods that are part of the normal diet and that provide, in addition to the basic nutritional functions, physiological benefits proven or reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
Like all berries, cranberry or cranberry is a fruit with a limited content of simple sugars (less than 5 gr per 100 gr of product), a good amount of fiber and an excellent content of vitamin C.
Thanks to its low quantity of sugars and reduced calorie intake (46 calories per 100gr), cranberry is suitable for anyone, without particular restrictions.
It is mainly known for its high content in anthocyanins, which give the fruit the typical red color, and which constitute an excellent antioxidant.
The scientific community proposes it as an effective all-natural remedy in case of cystitis and urinary infections in general. Its antioxidant action, promotes the increase of “good cholesterol” which, unlike “bad cholesterol”, cleans the walls of the arteries.
It is also believed to help improve dental health. The proanthocyanidin contained in blueberries acts as a non-stick and prevents the adhesion of bacteria that cause infections.
Cranberries are an excellent source of vitamin C. 115 ml of fresh cranberries are enough to meet the recommended daily dose for an adult.
Cranberry juice, cranberry juice
Cranberry juice is obtained by cold pressing of freshly picked Canadian cranberries, which retains all the nutritional and antioxidant properties. Compared to the cranberry that is cultivated in Europe and especially in Germany (mountain cranberry), it has a more acidic and pungent taste, so it is often consumed as lemon substitute, also for the two extremely refreshing properties or associated with sweeter fruits, such as apples, but also with some herbs, for example mallow, whose beneficial effects it strengthens. Its daily intake can play an important role in a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
It can be consumed in several ways. simple recipe for a fresh and refreshing drink for the summer is dilute the cranberry juice with fresh water and add maple syrup or prepare a delicious smoothie by blending together a glass of Cranberry juice, a glass of frozen raspberries, a frozen banana, a glass of low-fat Greek yogurt, two tablespoons of maple syrup and a handful of ice cubes. But cranberry juice is not only suitable for the preparation of drinks. It is an excellent ally in the recipes of desserts and savory preparations. Versatile in the kitchen and rich in health benefits: these are the reasons why cranberry was also called Wonderberry, “blueberry of wonders”.
Start your journey into a world of deliciousness right away
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Pure cranberry juice – 350ml bottle 7,85 €
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Cranberry jam – 240g jar 4,85 €