Story | Connie Li Photography | Wild Blueberry Association of North America
When the warm breezes begin to blow and the sun is carrying gentle warmth, the saying of “A year’s plan starts with spring” holds profound meaning for Canadians.
Hosting a backyard cocktail party to reconnect with long-missed friends and family, or heading to a park for a family picnic, good food and drinks are always the best ways to celebrate the arrival of spring.
This year, we’ve added a touch of blue to the celebration with blueberries—Blueberry Cocktails, Blueberry Smoothies, Blueberry Salads ….
After indulging in these blueberry delights, stick out your blue-stained tongue, snap a picture with blooming flowers and lush greenery, and kick off a vibrant and joyful spring season.
Blueberries are a staple in Canadian cuisine, but have you noticed the distinction between wild and cultivated varieties?Compared to cultivated blueberries, wild blueberries are smaller in size. They offer more than twice the number of berries per pound compared with cultivated blueberries. They also boast rich genetic diversity, and their intense, sweet-tart taste is extraordinary—something that can’t be duplicated through the cultivation of a single variety.
Wild blueberries are wild by nature and cannot be planted or farmed in the ways that many industrial food crops are. Unlike ordinary blueberries, wild blueberries are spread primarily by rhizomes, which give rise to new roots and stems. All shoots arising from the same rhizome system have similar characteristics and are referred to as a blueberry clone. Unlike cultivated blueberries, wild blueberries are just that, where Mother Nature has put them.
Wild blueberries are indigenous to Canada and Maine. Canada is the world’s largest producer of them, with most grown commercially in Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. Harvest begins in late July and continues through August. Growers use winnowing machines in the fields to remove leaves and twigs before the berries are washed and frozen.
Berries frozen using the individually quick frozen (IQF) method preserve their taste and nutrition quickly and can remain frozen for more than two years without losing their flavour or nutritional value.
Frozen wild blueberries are easy to use right out of the freezer and are available in major grocery stores across Canada. To be sure you’re using authentic wild blueberries, you can look for the words “Wild Blueberries” on the front of the package, or check the list of ingredients on the back for the word “Wild.” If all else fails, feel the berries in the bag. If they are small and “pea-sized,” chances are you’ve got the wild ones.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), frozen wild blueberries are at least as nutritious as fresh berries. Since many regular blueberries are shipped thousands of miles after harvest and spend weeks in warehouses prior to purchase, frozen wild blueberries may even retain their nutritional value longer.
Spring is also the beginning of new attempts and plans in life. If you’re looking to adopt a healthier diet, wild blueberries can be a great ally. Rich in anthocyanins, they are hailed as a “superfruit.” A daily intake of around 40 grams (approximately 1/3 cup) can offer numerous health benefits, ranging from brain, gut and heart health to cancer prevention, improved urinary tract function and a reduced risk of diabetes. Their benefits are increasingly backed by research.
Let’s kick off the party with a blueberry cocktail and treat friends and family to delicious, easy-to-make blueberry dishes. Finally, don’t forget to take some vibrant blue-themed photos to celebrate the arrival of spring!
Energy Boosting Vegan Wild Blueberries Smoothie (Recipe from wildblueberryassociation.ca)
Ingredients (for two servings) :
1 cup (250 ml) frozen wild blueberries, ½ cup (125 ml) frozen strawberries, ½ frozen banana, ½ cup (125 ml) baby spinach, ½ avocado, 1/3 cup (80 ml) silken tofu (about 1/5 of 16 ounce block), ¼ cup (60 ml) raw walnuts, 1 tsp (5 ml) hemp seeds, 1-2 Medjool dates (pitted), depending on desired level of sweetness, 1 cup (250 ml) unsweetened almond milk
Optional Toppings: Frozen wild blueberries, Hemp seeds
Preparation:
1. Blend all ingredients together until smooth and creamy.
2. Divide into glasses; garnish if desired.
Wild Blueberry Baselito (Recipe from wildblueberryassociation.ca)
Ingredients:
4 basil leaves, 2 tsp (10 ml) cane sugar, 2 tbsp (30 ml) sparkling water, ¼ cup frozen wild blueberries, 2 tbsp (30 ml) fresh lime juice, 1/5 cup (35 ml) light rum, 1 basil stem, 2 wild blueberries on a swizzle stick to garnish
Preparation:
1. Combine basil leaves and cane sugar into a Caipirinha glass (short) and add sparkling water. Mix ingredients lightly with pestle.
2. Add wild blueberries, crush and mix a second time.
3. Fill the glass two-thirds full with crushed ice and add lime juice and rum and stir thoroughly.
4. Thread wild blueberries onto a small skewer. Decorate glass with wild blueberry swizzle stick and basil leaves if desired.
Wild Blueberry BBQ Chicken (Recipe from nbdeliciouslycanadian.com)
Ingredients:
3 pounds of chicken wings, drums and flats, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1/3 cup sea salt, 8 cups water, 1 halved lime, 1 halved garlic bulb, 4 rosemary sprigs, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons your favourite BBQ spice rub mixture, (Extra cilantro and lime wedges (to serve) ild Blueberry BBQ auce 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 medium white onion minced, 3 garlic cloves minced, ¼ cup minced fresh cilantro leaves, 1 small jalapeno minced (or less, if you like it less spicy), 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, ½ cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons maple sugar (or brown sugar, in a pinch), 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 3 cups of New Brunswick wild blueberries, 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice, sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper
Preparation:
1. Brine the chicken wings
In a large pot, combine the water, brown sugar and salt, and dissolve. Add garlic, lime, rosemary and chicken wings, then cover with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 4 hours.
2. Preheat a Traeger (or other pellet grill) to 225 F degrees.
3. Pat the wings completely dry with paper towels, toss with olive oil and spice rub mixture, coating every nook and cranny. Place the wings directly on the grill grates and smoke for 1 hour.
Meanwhile, make your New Brunswick Wild Blueberry BBQ Sauce.
1. Heat a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat and add your olive oil.
2. When the oil is simmering, add the onion, season with a pinch of salt, and cook until softened and translucent, about 6-7 minutes.
3. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, then add cilantro and jalapeno, and continue cooking for about 1 minute, keeping the mixture moving.
4. Add Dijon, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, maple sugar, spices, lemon juice, wild blueberries, and season with salt and pepper.
5. Mix well, bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, and cook until thickened and reduced. Remove from the heat and pulse with a hand blender until smooth.
After the wings have smoked for 1 hour, remove them from the heat and increase the grill temp to 350 F degrees. Place the wings back on the grill and cook for 15 minutes, then toss with your Wild Blueberry BBQ Sauce and continue cooking for about 10-15 minutes, or until the sauce thicken.
