Why Is The Cranberry So Popular? Are They As Good As Everyone Says?


by Rwakefield - Date: 2007-10-12 - Word Count: 753 Share This!

So, you ask, what is the 'cranberry', and why is it so good for you?


The Cranberry bush is a humble evergreen dwarf shrub often discovered in acidic bogs in the cooler areas of North America.

The berry of the cranberry shrub begins as a surprising white colour, but as it develops and ripens it transforms to a deep scarlet color.

Even though it is a member of the same plant group as the blueberry and the whinberry, the cranberry berry is slightly supplementary sharp, which, as a result helps to complement the fruity sweetness, which puts it in that strange niche in the culinary universe of ingredients that can accompany savoury dishes and also desserts.

Cranberries in all probability got the name 'cranberry' based on the belief that they are often consumed by cranes (ie 'crane-berry') - although some experts hold the view that the true etymology is rooted in the observable fact in the ealier stages of the shrub's life, it seems to resemble the shape of a crane. Regardless of the explanation, the name 'cranberry' is now established through the known world.

Cranberries represent a key economic cash-crop in a few US States (in the north), and now have a really unique and historic place in The traditional culture of North America as they were believed to have been offered to starving colonists by the native people. As a result, cranberry sauce is a quintessential part of the much-loved thanksgiving meal consumed by many thousands of Americans every year since.

The majority of the yearly cranberry production is turned into cranberry juice and cranberry jelly, however an increasing amount it is now traded in its raw state due to health claims that cranberrries are one of the 'superfoods', believed to have very beneficial nutritional content and antioxidant characteristics.

In the past, these versatile and tasty berries were grown in 'beds' in damp swamp, however in more recent times cultivation has moved to elevated regions with an 'easy to access' water table. In these cranberry beds, contrary to popular belief, the beds are not kept 'underwater' but are constantly irrigated to ensure that there is a sensible water level in the soil.

Cranberry juice is now easily available every country, and as an alternative to the commonly availible 'burgundy' juice, is also on the shelves as a white juice which is made from younger fruit.

Cranberries and medicinal properties

Some people hold that the juice of the cranberry possesses healthy properties that seem to help in preventing bacterialogical infections in the urinary tract.

Also, it has been used for many other health issues, such as a treatment for open wounds, bowel problems, diabetes, stomach upsets, and as an aid to a healthful liver. A bit of research has been completed which suggests that habitual drinking of cranberry juice could help lower the chances of coronary disease.

As in all similar medicinal claims, you need to exercise great care - medical opinion is still divided and the correct reason for increasing your consumption of these versatile and tasty berries is the observable fact they really taste great! As mentioned already, cranberries are used in both sweet and savoury meals, with the best known use being as an accompaniment to the old fashioned roast turkey. Don't let this 'regular' use put you off though, cranberry berries are also quite superb when used in sweet dishes.


If you fancy trying out some good to eat recipes for cranberry you can find many of them on the web, but to start you off properly, here is a tasty cranberry recipe:



Cranberry cobbler recipe

Recipe ingredients


one Thick-skinned orange

1 cup water

1/2 cup Granulated sugar (or equivalent low carb sugar substitute)

4 cups Cranberry berries

1 tablespoon Butter (far better than margarine)

1 x package Biscuit dough (to create eight biscuits).



Preparation


Roughly grate the orange rind and put on one side. Put the remainder of the orange through a juicer. Mix juice of the orange, grated rind, water, sugar (granulated), cranberries & unsalted butter in a non-stick pan. Bring to a rolling boil and simmer for 1 min until you have a nice rich sauce.

Divide the sauce evenly into eight buttered ovenproof baking dishes or even into a casserole dish, if you wish. Spoon the biscuit dough on top of the cranberry sauce.

Oven bake at 450 f for 10 minutes, turn down heat and oven bake at 350 f (180 c) for another 20 minutes.

makes 8 servings.

Only 98 calories per serving !

Roger is a recipe contributor at: "recipe-ideas", which offers cooks and chefs a selection of healthy cranberry recipes that are easy to prepare at home.

Related Tags: fitness, health, nutrition, food, cooking, recipes, cranberries, cranberry

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