Fall in love with berries all over again by learning some blueberry fun facts. Everyone loves blueberries whether they're picked and eaten straight from the bush or baked into a favorite dessert, but have you ever wanted to know more about this delicious fruit? Explore some of the lesser-known facets of this classic American food source.
Blueberries in History
Just like other fruits and vegetables, blueberries are an important part of history. They have always been abundant on the North American continent, making them a staple in the diet of Native Americans as well as the first colonists who settled in North America. Here are some blueberry fun facts about the early days of our continent.
Native Americans
- Native Americans once called them "star berries," because the five points of blueberry blossoms make a star shape.
- They held blueberries in high esteem, believing that the "Great Sprit" created the berries to feed their hungry children during famine.
- Blueberry juice had medicinal value for Native Americans as well and was used to treat persistent coughs and other illnesses.
- Blueberries were commonly used to make pemmican, a jerky type of dried food packed for sustenance on long journeys.
- They also used blueberries in non-traditional ways like making dye from blueberry juice for textiles and baskets.
Early America.
- Taking their cue from Native Americans, early settlers of America introduced blueberries into their diets when other food sources were scarce.
- Early colonists made gray paint out of blueberries by boiling them in milk.
- Mocking their British roots, the first colonists added blueberries to traditional English fruit and dough puddings and renamed them "buckle," "grunt," and "slump."
- The traditional blue paint used in the homes of Shakers was made from blueberry skins, sage blossoms, indigo, and milk.
- During the Civil War of the 1860s, blueberries were collected, packaged, and sent to Union troops for use as a food staple.
-Taken from: http://www.2020site.org/fun-facts/Blueberry-Fun-Facts.html
