Cranberries are a group of evergreen dwarf shrubs or trailing vines in the genus Vaccinium subgenus Oxycoccus, or in some treatments, in the distinct genus Oxycoccus. They are found in acidic bogs throughout the cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere.

Cranberries are low, creeping shrubs or vines up to 2 m long and 5 to 20 cm in height [2], with slender, wiry stems, not thickly woody, and small evergreen leaves. The flowers are dark pink, with very distinct reflexed petals, leaving the style and stamens fully exposed and pointing forward. They are pollinated by domestic honey bees. The fruit is a berry that is larger than the leaves of the plant; it is initially white, but turns a deep red when fully ripe. It is edible, with an acidic taste that can overwhelm its sweetness.

Cranberries are a major commercial crop in certain US states and Canadian provinces (see "Cultivation and Uses" below). Most cranberries are processed into products such as juice, sauce, and sweetened dried cranberries, with the remainder sold fresh to consumers. Cranberry sauce is widely regarded as an indispensable part of the traditional American and Canadian Thanksgiving menu.

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Cranberry

2007-3-11 12:44

There are three to four species of cranberry, classified in two sections:

Subgenus Oxycoccus, sect. Oxycoccus
   

• Vaccinium oxycoccus or Oxycoccus palustris (Common Cranberry or Northern Cranberry) is widespread throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere, including northern Europe, northern Asia and northern North America. It has small 5-10 mm leaves. The flowers are dark pink, with a purple central spike, produced on finely hairy stems. The fruit is a small pale pink berry, with a refreshing sharp acidic flavour.
• Vaccinium microcarpum or Oxycoccus microcarpus (Small Cranberry) occurs in northern Europe and northern Asia, and differs from V. oxycoccus in the leaves being more triangular, and the flower stems hairless. Some botanists include it within V. oxycoccus.
• Vaccinium macrocarpon or Oxycoccus macrocarpus (American Cranberry) native to northeastern North America (eastern Canada, and eastern United States, south to North Carolina at high altitudes). It differs from V. oxycoccus in the leaves being larger, 10-20 mm long, and in its slightly apple-like taste.

Subgenus Oxycoccus, sect. Oxycoccoides
   

• Vaccinium erythrocarpum or Oxycoccus erythrocarpus (Southern Mountain Cranberry) native to southeastern North America at high altitudes in the southern Appalachian Mountains, and also in eastern Asia.

Cranberries are related to the bilberries, blueberries, and huckleberries, all in Vaccinium subgenus Vaccinium. These differ in having stouter, woodier stems forming taller shrubs, and in the bell-shaped flowers, the petals not being reflexed.

Some plants of the completely unrelated genus Viburnum are sometimes inaccurately called "highbush cranberries".

Cranberries are susceptible to false blossom, a harmful but controllable phytoplasma disease that is most common in the eastern production areas of Massachusetts and New Jersey.

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Cranberry

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Health benefits

Cranberries are a source of polyphenol antioxidants, chemicals which are known to provide certain health benefits to the cardiovascular system and immune system.

There is some use of cranberry juice by people with spinal paralysis; regular consumption of the juice is supposed to reduce the rate of urinary tract infections. While much of the evidence is equivocal, a number of double-blind
  clinical trials have been carried out that suggest there actually is an effect: a component of the juice appears to competitively inhibit bacterial attachment to the bladder and urethra[4] allowing the bacteria to be flushed out more easily. Cranberries also act as a prebiotic, promoting the growth of beneficial lactobacillus bacteria while inhibiting the growth of harmful E. coli and listeria.

An autumn 2004 caution from the Committee on Safety of Medicines, the UK agency dealing with drug safety, advised patients taking warfarin not to drink cranberry juice after adverse effects were reported.

Cranberries also contain significant concentrations of benzoic acid, which in combination with Vitamin C forms small amounts of the group 1 carcinogen
  benzene.^[1]

Cranberry juice contains a chemical component, a high molecular weight non-dializable material (NDM), that is able to inhibit and even reverse the formation of plaque by Streptococcus mutan pathogens that cause tooth decay.^[2][3]

Cranberry juice also, supposedly prevents the formation of kidney stones.

[此贴子已经被作者于2007-3-11 12:48:16编辑过]

I like cranberry juice! And now I like it more because it is healthy too!

It is the first time I know that cranberry grows in water instead of on land as bushes just like other "berry"s. The apple cranberry juice tastes good, a lot of sugar must have been added.You know the cranberry fruit is too sour, even for me, a sour stuffs lover. BTW, you can try some cocktails with cranberry too. I found some recipes from here:

http://www.in-the-spirit.co.uk/cocktails/browse_cocktails.php?type=ing&ing_id=65

pretty good, worth a try, hehe

And the cranberry flower looks lovely.

cranberry cocktail would be lovely, thanks. Actually, many cocktails contain cranberry juice.

We went for a booast last week, my friend ordered apple cranberry juice.?Since i have no idea what is cranberry, i picked mango passion smoothies.?But none of us know how cranberry looks like, now i know.?hehe~ the first picture is so lovely, i'll have a try on apply cranberry juice next time.?thanks

the cranberry juice itself is really sour, but with sufficient sugur, it tastes good.

 

British people usually eat fresh cranberries near summertimes. But in fact they are not that delicious not because of its sour but the texture. The seeds inside always make me feel uncomfortable  :S

However, the British mince pie that served only during Christmas time is really fabulous! eople combine cranberry jam and mince together inside cup-sized pies.Usually it's served with coffee or tea as the last course of a Christmas meal. Moreover, cranberry jam itself is always served along the main course such as roasted beef or other meat. I have ever worked on these meals as a waitress who was always busy serving cranberry jam =)

[此贴子已经被作者于2007-3-31 22:53:42编辑过]