Have you ever heard of lingonberries, what they are and where they grow?

This blog post will discuss all you need to know about lingonberries, a superfood of nature. Specifically, we will cover their origin, how they look and taste, their nutritional value and health benefits, how to use them, and where to buy them.

What are lingonberries?

Lingonberries (vaccinium vitis-idaea) are the berries of a relatively small and low bush that grows wild in nature. You will often see them called cowberries, red whortleberries, or mountain cranberries, which grow wild in cold climates. Many people confuse lingonberries with cranberries. You can read more about the differences in our blog post lingonberry vs cranberry.

Where do lingonberries come from?

Lingonberries grow in cool climates in Northern Europe, Northern America, Northern China, and Japan. In Finland, lingonberries are one of the most common berries growing wild in the forest. Usually, you will find them growing in swamps and dry forest lands. Their growing time is from June to July, depending on the region and yearly weather conditions.

How do lingonberries look?

Lingonberries look a bit like cranberries, but they are smaller. The diameter is around 5-8 mm. Their color varies from bright to deep red. The riper the lingonberry is, the deeper the color of the skin. When you cut them open, their flesh is light red.

How do lingonberries taste?

Lingonberries have a delicate tangy and sweet taste at the same time. When they are ripe, they become juicier, sweeter, and less tangy. For example, lingonberries taste similar to cranberries, but they are both unique. Also, lingonberry tastes quite acidic compared to some other berries like strawberry or blueberry. 

What are the health benefits of Lingonberries?

Including lingonberries in your diet has multiple nutritional benefits. Lingonberries are a true superfood of Arctic wild nature. Firstly, it has one of the highest amounts of antioxidants of any fruit or berries and twice the amount of antioxidants as in cranberry. Secondly, it has an equal amount of natural fibers and Vitamins A, C, and K as cranberry; hence both of them are considered to be very healthy sources of those nutrients. If interested in learning more, you can also read our detailed post where we compare these two super berries of nature in our blog post: lingonberry vs cranberry

Lastly, they contain almost no sugar and have very few calories. Therefore, they are a perfect addition to low-calorie, low-carb, diabetic, or keto diets. If you would like to know more about antioxidants and their role, please look at our post antioxidants – what they are and why they are important.

How to use lingonberries?

Just like any berries, there are endless ways of using lingonberries. You can enjoy them as a snack, mix them in salads, yogurt, smoothies, or oatmeal. They are great for desserts too; they make, for example, muffins very tasty and juicy.

Another easy way is to start using lingonberry powder in your daily diet. Lingonberry powder is made by freeze-drying or heat-drying the fresh wild berries immediately after picking and then powdering them. The heat-drying process compromises the nutritional value and taste of berries. On the other hand, the freeze-drying process guarantees that the berries maintain their excellent nutritional value, taste, and flavor.

Arctic Flavors’ 100% natural lingonberry powder is made using the freeze-drying method. We add no sugar or any other preservatives. It is 100% berries! Ten grams of powder equals about 100 grams of fresh berries, so a spoonful of powder is equal to a handful of fresh lingonberries.  

Use it just like you would fresh berries: for salads, smoothies, yogurt, desserts. Visit some of our lingonberry powder recipes: Layer cake with lingonberry cream filling, Homemade vegan lingonberry coconut ice cream without ice cream maker.

Where can I buy lingonberries?

The only place to buy fresh or frozen lingonberries is usually in the regions where they grow wild: Northern Europe and Northern American regions like Alaska. The lingonberries season is relatively short, so the fresh berries are available for only about a month or two, typically towards the end of the summer.

On the other hand, wild lingonberry powder is available all year round. It can be stored at room temperature, and it stays fresh for six months after opening a package. You can buy Arctic Flavors premium quality wild lingonberry powder in our Arctic Flavors Online Shop

We hope you enjoyed this blog post covering some of the most important facts about lingonberries. We believe they are one of the best berries of nature, and we’re hoping to spread the word about them and their unique health benefits.

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Arctic Flavors