It’s that Cranberry time of Year

November 21st is National Cranberry Day, hot on its heels is National Cranberry Relish Day on the 22nd, and then you can top it all off with National Eat a Cranberry Day on November 23rd! With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it’s the perfect time of year to have cranberries on your mind… and on your palette.

Cranberries are a combination of health boosters and have rich involvement in history too! Originally “Cranberry” was called “Cranberry” that had its root in the German term “Kraanbere”. The name was given to this berry as the flowers and stem had a resemblance to a ‘Crane’ and thus its name “Cranberry”.

One of the American settlements started growing the Cranberries and it became a popular crop with the berries being included at Thanksgiving dinners by Colonists and exported to Europe.

The Cranberries usually grow in acidic bogs and marshes across the colder regions in the Northern Hemisphere. They belong to the category of dwarf shrubs or trailing vines and are evergreen. They usually grow up to 8 inches high and 7 feet in length. The stem is slender and has small leaves. The flowers are dark pink and have unique petals folding backward forming the shape of a Crane’s beak. The Cranberry is larger than its leaves. The berries are white initially and then turn deep red when ripe.

Today various food items are formed using Cranberries and are added as ingredients for various recipes and Cuisine. Cranberries are high in antioxidants and low in sugar than any other berry or fruit. They also prevent various diseases such as urinary tract infections, gum diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. They are also a great source of immunity boosters and aid in gut health as they are packed with Vitamin C and good amounts of fiber!

So with all these health benefits and the history of Cranberries are fair enough reasons to enjoy those tasty berries. And the National Eat A Cranberry Day is all about eating them today and cultivating the habit of enjoying them in all our meals!

Fun Facts about Cranberries:

• Cranberries float and bounce due to air pockets that have air inside them!
• It is one of the few native fruits that grow in the North American region
• Cranberries are a commercial crop in the US and they are mainly produced in New Jersey, Oregon, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and Washington!
• Nearly half of the US Cranberries are produced in Wisconsin!
• Cranberries are often referred to as superfruits for their nutrients and antioxidants!
• The white Cranberry Juice is made from the mature cranberries that have not turned Red yet.
• Cranberry vines grow even in the most unsupportive conditions such as acidic soil, lesser nutrients, high and low temperatures too.
• The Thanksgiving Legend tells that cranberries were served in 1621 during the initial Thanksgiving in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
• The natural flavonoids in Cranberries help prevent Plaque formation and gum disease
• Cranberries are naturally bitter. That is why it is combined with other ingredients or sweeteners to make it enjoyable.
• 90% of the Cranberry is water!

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