Bog bilberry

What it is

Bog bilberry is Vaccinium uliginosum, a close relative of bilberry. The berries have a fine waxy coating and are round or barrel-shaped, about 0.5–1 cm (0.2–0.4 in) across. Ordinary bilberry has dark flesh that stains; bog bilberry stays pale inside, and it is low in both acid and sugar.

Where it comes from

This is a fruit of the northern world. It grows across Alaska, Canada and Greenland, and reaches south into New England and the northern Great Lakes states. Its range also stretches through Europe and Asia, including Japan.

In Finland it grows across the country, most commonly in Kainuu and Lapland. Bogs, tundra and spruce woods all suit it; its habitats reach from sea level to high mountain ground.

How it's eaten where it grows

In Finland, bog bilberries go into porridge, berry soups, kissel and drinks, often alongside stronger-tasting bilberry or blackcurrant. In Lapland, older meals combined the berries with fish, meat or bark gruel.

Native Alaskan ways of keeping the crop include layering berries with sugar in a barrel or mixing them with seal oil. Lard and vegetable oil are also used.

How it's grown

Bog bilberry is a low, branching shrub, often just 20–40 cm (8–16 in) tall. White or pink flowers grow singly or in small clusters at the tips of its stems. It grows in acidic soil and spreads through underground stems, making mats or loose colonies. Its leaves turn red-purple before falling for winter.

When and where you'll find it

In Finland the picking season is usually August. In Alaska it usually runs from mid-July to September, with berries gathered by hand or with a small berry rake. The harvest also keeps as frozen or dried berries, jam and juice, giving this short summer fruit a place in meals beyond its picking season.