There's a line in the movie "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" that states, in part, "Your father smelt of elderberries!" It's intended as an insult, and for good reason. You see, straight from the bush, elderberries smell kind of like really dirty cabbage -- at best.

As for the flavor, the berries are astringent, and basically inedible when uncooked. So that begs the question: why bother with 'em? Because they make incredible jelly, and they're very easy to grow, that's why!

Continue reading "Growing Elderberries in Your Backyard" »

Posted by Berry Jerry | Permalink

Juniper berries represent something exceedingly rare: food that grows on a conifer tree. The only other thing that comes close is the pine nut, which is, of course, cool in its own way. And like pine nuts, the berries of the juniper are associated with cones.

Continue reading "Juniper Berries, Unique Coniferous Fruits" »

Posted by Berry Jerry | Permalink

Here's an interesting berry fact: did you know that one of the most popular berries in the world grows on a palm tree, and isn't a berry at all? If you've read our recent article on what constitutes a true berry (at least from a botanical perspective), you'll recognize that we're talking about the famous acai.

There are many fascinating facts to be discovered about our favorite fruits; and in some cases, even some of us experts aren't aware of them. Here are a few good ones.

Continue reading "Separating Berry Fact from Berry Fiction " »

Posted by Andrea | Permalink

Oddly enough, most of us would be hard-pressed to actually differentiate true berries from pseudo-berries. Case in point: what's the most famous berry on the Internet? If you said the acai, give yourself a big fat raspberry! (Another imposter, by the way).

Despite Oprah's endorsement, the acai isn't a berry at all. It's a drupe, a kind of stone-fruit that grows on, of all things, a palm tree (hence its other name, the palm berry). Oh, you can call acais berries all you like, but that's akin to calling a cavy a guinea pig. It's common practice, but that doesn't make it real.

Continue reading "Are Your Favorite Berries True Berries... or Imposters? " »

Posted by Andrea | Permalink

What You Should Know About Berries and Weight Loss

So many diets focus on what you shouldn't eat that it can quickly become discouraging. Luckily, berries are something that you SHOULD eat, as part of both a healthy maintenance diet and a successful weight-loss diet!

Continue reading "Berries: A Natural Path To Weight Loss" »

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What's So Great about the Acai Berry?

The acai berry is the fruit of the acai palm, which grows in Central and South America. Although reminiscent of grapes, they provide a source of potent antioxidants and have caught the attention of health food experts around the world. They are touted as a valuable nutritional supplement, spurring their reach into the American health food market.

Continue reading "The Acai Berry Craze: Nature's Sensitive Antioxidant" »

Posted by Berry Jerry | Permalink

You Can't Grow This Berry, But You Might Want to Buy It

Usually this blog is dedicated to growing berries from home all year long. However, I've been a big fan of a certain type of berry (the acai berry) for many years now and I feel a bit remiss that I haven't shared this fantastic fruit with you before. So even though it's not practical to grow a 100-foot palm tree to get this great berry, I'm going to tell you why you might want to buy it from the stores.

Continue reading "Why The Acai Berry May Be The Most Powerful Berry on the Block" »

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We May Get More Than Enjoyment From Our Beloved Berries

If recent findings from Finland are any indication, we may be getting more than enjoyment from the berries we grow. It seems that berries can actually help us live longer if we eat them every day. Want to know more? Here's some interesting berry information...

Continue reading "Can Berries Help You Live Longer?" »

Posted by Berry Jerry | Permalink

Strawberries Sometimes Have a Downside

We love berries, and so do our readers. It’s no wonder that strawberries, blueberries, and cranberries can have such a revered status. They’re tasty on their own, plus they’re versatile and form the basis of many great desserts and creations. There is a downside to at least one of these fruits, however. Strawberries sometimes have a nasty side, and I've got the scoop below.

Continue reading "Are You Allergic to Strawberries?" »

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Widening Your Berry Horizons

Most of us know which foods can be considered fruits and which can not. Many of us also know many of the foods that fall under the definition of berries. For example, we all know that blueberries, strawberries and raspberries all fall under the berry category. that being said, recognizing a berry isn't always as easy as reading into the name.

Continue reading "Do You Really Know Your Berries?" »

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Interesting Facts About Backyard Berries

Think you know everything there is to know about backyard berries? You may want to think twice! Here are 10 interest berry facts that just might surprise you!

Continue reading "Backyard Berries: 10 Things You Probably Didn't Know" »

Posted by Berry Jerry | Permalink