What do cranberries and lingonberries have in common and how do they differ from each other?

The taste and aroma of wild berries is familiar to every person since childhood. Naturally ripened fruits of cranberries, lingonberries, blueberries, sea buckthorn and blueberries are a storehouse of useful nutrients.

Cranberries and lingonberries are bright, in the truest sense of the word, representatives of forest gifts. Red fruits are used to make tasty and healthy fruit drinks, compotes, jelly, preserves and jams, and are used to treat colds and other diseases. What else these berries are useful for, where they grow and how to distinguish lingonberries from cranberries is described in detail below.

What is the difference between cranberries and lingonberries

At first glance, both berries are similar, but upon closer examination, the fruits differ in both their size and chemical composition. Both cranberries and lingonberries belong to the heather plant family. But if lingonberry is characterized by a herbaceous shrub no more than 30 centimeters high, then cranberry bushes grow like a creeping vine.

Cranberries have been known to mankind for a long time. The first mentions of the medicinal product date back to the 10th century. The name of the berry is translated from Latin as sour ball. The plant acquired another name due to the unusual shape of the peduncle, reminiscent of a crane. Therefore, in Europe and America, cranberries are known as crane berries. In Great Britain, the forest fruit is called Bearberry.

Lingonberries got their name due to their bright red color. The fruits are popularly called boletus or boletus berry, which indicates the place where the plant grows.

Interesting! The bright, green leaves of the bushes do not fall off in the fall, so in winter you can find berries thanks to the lush greenery that is visible from under the snow.

Where do the berries grow?

In order not to confuse red fruits, you need to familiarize yourself with the place where the plants grow.

1. Cranberries are widespread throughout the Northern Hemisphere of our planet. The berry bush grows both in warm and temperate climates and in northern latitudes. The plant prefers moist, acidic soil and is often found in swampy forests, tundra and foothills. The berry bushes bloom in late spring or early summer, and the red fruits ripen in the fall. Places where cranberries grow always have a high moisture content.
2. Lingonberry is considered a northern berry; it prefers to grow in mixed and coniferous forests, in the tundra, and does not like direct exposure to sunlight. The first fruits ripen at the end of summer, but they are collected after snow falls. It is then that the content of vitamins and nutrients in the berries reaches its maximum level.

Plants are spread by seed. The bright fruits are loved by birds, who carry the seeds to different places.

Fact! Lingonberry bushes can grow and bear fruit in one place for up to 300 years, but the fruits are prone to absorbing harmful and toxic substances. The collection of lingonberries is carried out at a great distance from populated areas and highways.

Size difference

Lingonberries and cranberries have both external differences in plants and in the size of the fruit. We will find out what forest gifts look like in their natural environment below.

When ripe, both berries acquire a bright red hue. Lingonberries are distinguished by small fruits with a slightly flattened tip. The size of lingonberry berries in volume rarely exceeds 20 mm. Cranberries are larger and are characterized by red, rounded fruits. Ripe berries often exceed the centimeter mark in diameter.

Lingonberry bushes stretch upward to a height of up to 30 centimeters. Cranberries prefer to grow and develop on the surface of the soil in a dense layer of moss. The plant can be identified by its red beads of berries and bright green young shoots.

Taste differences

The taste and aroma of forest products also has significant differences.

Cranberries have a sharp sour taste and a bitter aftertaste. After frost, the acid concentration decreases and the berries become sweeter.

The acid content in lingonberry fruits is 2 times lower, so the berry has a softer, sweetish taste. By spring, boletus reaches its maximum concentration of sugars and becomes much sweeter. Many people prefer to harvest lingonberries in late winter or early spring.

Important! Cranberries are characterized by soft, juicy pulp, while lingonberries are denser and less juicy.

General characteristics

The subgenus Cranberry combines 4 species; the fruits of all these varieties are edible. The Latin name for cranberry comes from the Greek words meaning “sour” and “berry.” It is known that the first European settlers who settled in America gave the cranberry a name that translated means “crane berry” because its blossoming flowers resemble the head and long neck of a crane. In other European languages, the name of this plant also comes from the word “crane”. The same American settlers gave cranberries another name - “bear berry”, as they noticed that bears often ate them.

Cranberry is a creeping shrub with flexible, rooting stems 15–30 cm long. Its leaves are alternate, small in size, up to 1.5 cm long and up to 0.6 mm wide, oblong or ovoid in shape, sitting on short petioles. The leaves are dark green above, ash-colored below and covered with a waxy coating. Cranberries bloom with pink or light purple flowers, which usually have 4, but sometimes 5 petals.

In Russia, in its European part, the plant blooms in May or June. Its fruit is a red berry of spherical, ovoid or ellipsoidal shape, approximately 1.5 cm in diameter. Cranberries have a sour taste (the fruit contains 3.4% organic acids and 6% sugars).

Lingonberry is a shrub from the genus Vaccinium. The name of the species – vítis-idaéa – translates as “vine from Mount Ida”. It is also a creeping plant with frequent leathery leaves of an elliptical or obovate shape, with curved edges. Their length ranges from 0.5 to 3 cm. The upper plates of lingonberry leaves are dark green and shiny, the lower ones are light green and matte.

The shoots of the plant can reach a length of 1 m, but usually they grow from 8 to 15 cm. Lingonberry flowers are bisexual, with 4 lobes, white or pale pink, sit on short stalks, collected in drooping racemes of 10–20 pieces. in each. This berry in appearance resembles bearberry, which is also called “bear ears”.

The fruits of lingonberries are spherical, with a shiny red skin, about 0.8 cm in diameter. Their taste is sweet and sour, with a slight bitterness (they contain 2% acids and 8.7% sugars). They ripen in August or September, and after frost they become watery and untransportable. Lingonberry fruits overwinter under snow cover until spring, but easily fall off when touched.

Chemical composition

Thanks to their unique composition, cranberries and lingonberries are a storehouse of vitamins and nutrients. Drinks made from forest fruits are recommended for increasing immunity and treating colds during flu epidemics. Red fruits improve blood composition and have a general strengthening and antiseptic effect.

The beneficial properties of cranberries are due to the rich chemical composition of the berries:

• vitamin C in red berries exceeds the content in citrus fruits and black currants;
• B vitamins are responsible for the metabolic processes of the whole body;
• cranberry is the record holder for the content of vitamin K, which is responsible for hematopoietic processes in the human body;
• nicotinic acid, or vitamin PP, promotes metabolic processes and is directly involved in the production of hormones necessary for the proper functioning of the body.

The fruit also contains many acids, macro and microelements that are beneficial to the body, including iron, zinc, phosphorus, aluminum, iodine, manganese and magnesium. The nutritional value of 100 grams of fresh fruit is only 28 energy units, which allows cranberries to be considered a low-calorie dietary product.

Lingonberries also provide invaluable benefits for the smooth and proper functioning of the body. Boletus contains a high content of magnesium, so the berries are often recommended during pregnancy to eliminate edema. It contains almost 2 times less acid than cranberries, and more sugars

The vitamin composition of wild berries is rich in vitamins B, A, E and C. Red fruits contain organic acids, pectins, dietary fiber, sugars, and tannins. Macro and microelements are represented by a compound of potassium, manganese, iron, iodine and phosphorus. The calorie content of lingonberries is slightly higher than that of cranberries due to the sugars contained in the berries. There are 43 kcal per 100 grams of fresh product. Lingonberry drinks are also recommended to be included in the daily diet when dieting and losing weight.

Important! Boletus leaves also contain many nutrients and beneficial substances. Herbal infusions from lingonberry twigs and leaves are used for acute pain in the joints, in the complex treatment of gout and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

Let's compare the taste of berries

These two berries have a sour taste, due to their composition and the ratio of chemicals, but the taste can be distinguished.

The taste of lingonberries is due to the presence of:

• Sugars - no more than 10 percent by weight of the berry (glucose, fructose)
• Organic acids - no more than 2 percent (citric, malic, oxalic and others)

The high sugar content causes the sweeter taste of lingonberries. If the berries are frozen during ripening, the taste becomes sweeter.

The taste of cranberries is due to:

• Sugars - no more than 6 percent (fructose, sucrose)
• Organic acids - no more than 4 percent (citric, malic and others)

More acids and less sugars give the sour, tart taste of cranberries.

Cranberries or lingonberries, which is healthier?

There is no clear answer to the question of what is healthier and what is better from forest gifts, because each of the presented berries contains many vitamins and nutrients that contribute to the health of the body.

Cranberry and lingonberry drinks are used to treat colds and flu. Due to the high content of ascorbic acid, the fruits have antiseptic and antipyretic properties, therefore they are recommended at high temperatures.

The iron content in wild berries helps protect the body from anemia and anemia. Daily consumption of vitamin drinks normalizes hemoglobin levels, strengthens the immune system, increases performance, and quickly relieves fatigue and nervous tension.

Other benefits of cranberries:

• tart, sour berries and drinks made from them help lower blood pressure;
• strengthen and cleanse the walls of blood vessels from cholesterol growths;
• remove harmful accumulations and toxins from the body, as well as excess fluid;
• normalize the functioning of the digestive system, accelerate metabolic processes;
• eliminate symptoms of colds, reduce temperature;
• lower blood sugar;
• help increase appetite, which is important during the period of recovery of the body after illnesses;
• improve kidney function by regulating the amount of fluid in the body.

Can pregnant women eat cranberries? The answer is a definite yes!

Cranberries, like lingonberries, contain many important macro and microelements that women need during pregnancy for the development of the child and the health of the mother.

The benefits of lingonberries are due to the rich chemical composition of the berries and all parts of the plant. The fruits and drinks from this plant are used for acute bronchitis, runny nose, sore throat, and pneumonia.

Infusions and decoctions from the leaves and twigs of the bush are used to treat kidney disease, cystitis, and urolithiasis. Compresses based on decoctions are recommended for joint pain. Drinks made from fresh berries help restore the body after illness, increase immunity, and have a general strengthening effect.

Lingonberries are also consumed if it is necessary to quickly lower blood pressure or normalize blood sugar levels.

The properties of cranberries and lingonberries are not as similar as they seem

They have strong anti-inflammatory properties. Act as natural antibiotics. Regular use of these berries is a good prevention of viral diseases and can strengthen the immune system. Inflammation and suppuration are treated with softened fruits by applying a pulp of them to the surface of the skin.

In addition to the general benefits that can support the immune system, other properties of these berries differ.

Useful properties of lingonberries:

• treats inflammation of the respiratory tract;
• eliminates infections of the reproductive system;
• cleanses the kidneys, removes stones from them;
• increases hemoglobin;
• cures scurvy;
• speeds up metabolism;
• fights constipation.

Contraindications

In addition to beneficial properties, forest gifts also have contraindications. In order not to harm the body, you need to familiarize yourself with the contraindications for consuming boletus and cranberries.

Lingonberries are not recommended to be included in the diet in the following cases:

• low pressure;
• chronic kidney disease;
• disturbances in the functioning of the digestive system;
• individual intolerance.

Red fruits should be introduced into the diet with caution during breastfeeding. In some cases, lingonberries can cause an allergic reaction in a newborn.

Cranberries contain a high acid content, so tart fruits are not recommended for use in case of peptic ulcer of the digestive system, gastritis with high acidity, caries and urolithiasis. Cranberries can also cause allergies, so they are not recommended during breastfeeding.

Important! Cranberries sharply lower blood pressure, so they are used with extreme caution in case of hypotension.

The benefits of multi-shade concealer

The internal “content” of the cranberry is similar to its sister:

• Cellulose . 100 grams contain 18% of the daily value.
• Vitamins and minerals . Identical to lingonberries. Plus B4, B9, B5, B6 (K1), gamma tocopherol, K1, sulfur, manganese, copper, selenium, zinc. The combination of ascorbic acid with vitamin PP, which promotes its absorption, and numerous phytoncides makes it a natural antibiotic. Therefore, it is recommended in the form of a fruit drink to reduce body temperature, to fight viruses and inflammatory bacteria in case of respiratory inflammation and cystitis. Kissel softens the gastric mucosa well. The available minerals are involved in hematopoiesis, muscle and heart function, build bones, and regulate water metabolism.
• Acids . A little more varied than lingonberries. Most of all citric, ursolic, chlorogenic, pelargonic, oleic, oleanolic, linoleic, benzoic. Oleanol and ursol counteract the formation of cancerous tumors, sclerosis, and suppress the activity of fungi and microbes. Phenol acids provide bactericidal and antibacterial properties, and together with antoncyans they suppress the activity of Candida and Helicobacter pylori, which cause gastritis, ulcers and even cancer. Benzoic acid is an antioxidant and membrane strengthener.
• Phenolic compounds . The antioxidant effect is tens of times greater than that of carotenoids and vitamins E and C, binding heavy metal ions into stable structures that lack catalytic properties. Together with anthocyanins, they trap free radicals.
• Tannins . A prominent representative is tannin, which suppresses pathogens in the kidneys and bladder.

Medicinal effects of cranberries:

• Reduces blood pressure, therefore effective in the early stages of hypertension.
• Anti-inflammatory and wound healing.
• Capillary strengthening.
• Antimicrobial (useful in the fight against staphylococci, salmonella, pyogenic streptococcus, enterobacteria).
• Anticarcinogenic (for the treatment and prevention of colon and stomach cancer).
• Anti-sclerotic.
• Antioxidant.
• Facilitates the course of Addison's disease.
• Protects teeth from tartar formation.

Application

The maximum content of vitamins and nutrients is concentrated in fresh fruits. But in order to preserve the gifts of the forest without losing their beneficial properties, the berries are frozen, pureed with sugar, boiled and dried.

For example, to prepare a vitamin remedy from cranberries, you will need:

• fresh fruits, in the amount of 1000 grams;
• granulated sugar, in the amount of 2 kilograms.

The berries are covered with sugar and then crushed in any convenient way. The resulting vitamin product strengthens the immune system, lowers temperature during colds and flu, and reduces blood pressure.

To prepare the same product from lingonberries, the proportions of the ingredients are calculated in equal shares.

Red fruits are used to make fruit drinks, jelly, jam and desserts. Berries are added to pickles, marinades and sauces for meat and fish dishes.

Advice! Fresh cranberry juice is recommended for diabetes and hypertension. The drink quickly, without harm to health, brings the indicators back to normal.

Similarity

The similarities between lingonberry and cranberry bushes are as follows:

• these plants belong to the same Heather family;
• they can often grow next to each other;
• both are perennial evergreen shrubs reaching a short height;
• leaves are dark green, shiny, oval in shape;
• the fruits are red and round;
• often used in folk medicine to treat various ailments;
• contain a large amount of vitamins, minerals and other useful substances;
• these are low-calorie foods;
• used for preparing winter preparations from vegetables, as well as jams, jams, fruit drinks, etc.

What is more expensive: cranberries or lingonberries?

The difference in prices for forest products directly depends on the place of purchase of vitamin products. Lingonberry is a northern plant, and therefore prices for the product in the places where the berry grows are lower. If in the north such a berry costs from 200 rubles per kilogram, then in the middle zone the cost is much more expensive, increasing 2-3 times. But the price of cranberries is approximately the same everywhere. A kilogram of fresh forest products can be purchased from 150 rubles per kilogram.

The largest selection of forest products at food markets. It is there that you can always choose a quality product and slightly reduce the price when bargaining.

Conclusion and recommendations

Both berries have been revered by people since ancient times due to their healing properties, ease of storage and relatively convenient harvest time. Entire villages came out for collection after the death or noticeable decrease in the activity of mosquitoes. But cranberries are considered a more valuable berry than lingonberries due to their much richer component composition . It is not for nothing that doctors in the north recommend fruit drinks made from it as the best drink for many diseases and for the prevention of vitamin deficiency. It is very simple to prepare and use autumn wild-growing gifts:

1. It is better to collect lingonberries when they are completely red , and cranberries - after the first night frosts . Grasp with your palms or special “rakes” from below and tear off from the stems.
2. The berries are perfectly preserved until spring in a cool place, soaked (without preservation) or pureed with sugar.
3. Fruit juice tastes better when both berries are used.
4. Most often they are used in the form of fruit drinks, jelly, jams, preserves and pie fillings.