Baby Cranberries

Well, okay, they aren’t actually baby cranberries, but are part of the cranberry family.

I love cranberries and when I was introduced to the lingonberry I fell in love with it too. It is grown in areas such as Denmark, Sweden and Finland which does explain why I first discovered the fruit at IKEA.

In my research I did find that they are grown in some parts of Alaska and in the US are often referred to as the cowberry. They really do look like mini cranberries.

Lingonberries are often made into preserves or sweet sauces. To be honest, this is the only way I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy them. Lingonberry preserves have that tart flavor that you associate with a cranberry yet there is a unique taste that is difficult to explain. I often use it as a sandwich spread or on top of breakfast foods like French toast.

I don’t see it around much so when I make it to an IKEA I always get a jar of their preserves. Aside from the sugar there aren’t an excessive amount of additives in each jar.

What sparked my interest in writing about lingonberries today is that while doing some research for a paper on omega-3 fatty acids I saw them listed as a source.

It turns out that the seeds of these little gems contain the omega-3s. It is often listed right up there with flaxseed.

I find this very exciting! I’m always looking for additional sources besides my salmon. Now wait! There’s a good idea. Grilled salmon with lingonberry sauce. Yum!

Top photo courtesy of WikimediaCommons