Cloudberry is also known as peat berry. What is special about the berry, which not only adorns a two-eye coin, but also finds its culinary use?
Occurrence and cultivation of cloudberry
The sailors and the peoples of the North have already eaten the cloudberry to prevent scurvy (vitamin deficiency disease). Cloudberry belongs to the plant species from the subgenus of the rose family. In Central Europe its occurrence is very rare. Nevertheless, it grows in Austria and Switzerland. In Northern Germany it proves to be a very rare occurrence and for this reason it is strictly protected. The plant is perennial and reaches a growth height of up to 25 centimeters. An unbranched, nonwoody and thornless stem is formed from the root. The leaves, which grow up to 20 centimeters wide, are alternate and have five to seven lobes. The foliage of the plant turns a strong red color until autumn. Peatberry flowers are white and bloom between May and July. The flowers are surrounded by corolla and sepals. The flowers are very short-lived and therefore very sensitive to rain. After flowering, the fruits develop and ripen into a aggregate drupe by July, which can have up to 25 drupelets. Initially, the fruits are green and turn from pale red to a yellow-orange. The cloudberry is ripe when it rolls the outer petals away from the fruit. The berries are very soft and difficult to pick. Because of this, the unripe fruit is usually harvested and then allowed to ripen in the sun.
Effect and application
Cloudberry finds its use as a food and as a remedy. It is rich in vitamins and trace elements and is one of the most valuable foods. In its raw state, cloudberry has a bitter to sour taste. Made as jam or jelly, it tastes particularly good. However, it is also used to flavor sweet dishes. In the countries of the northern latitudes it is consumed in a frozen state with a lot of sugar. It is used to make liqueur, and in Canada a specialty beer is flavored with cloudberry. The overripe berries, which are cream-colored, have a yogurt-like flavor. Cloudberry contains a high amount of vitamin C. It also contains sugar, citric acid and benzoic acid. The latter is a natural preservative that gives the fruit particularly good shelf life. The sailors and the peoples of the north have already eaten the peat berry to prevent scurvy (vitamin deficiency disease). In folk medicine, not only the fruit, but also the whole plant is used as a remedy. Cloudberry is used against cough and for tuberculosis. It contains the steroid diosgenin, a precursor of the female hormone progesterone, which is used for gout and rheumatism. Cloudberry is also administered for urinary bladder diseases and heart diseases. The leaves of the plant contain tannic acid, which has a healing effect especially in diarrhea (diarrhea). It helps the body to drain the excess fluid from the body.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
If cloudberry is consumed regularly, it restores disturbed blood circulation and regulates blood clotting. The berries are placed in the form of a compress on the affected area of the skin in case of burns and provide help in healing. Teas and tinctures are made from the roots and leaves of cloudberry. The collected parts of the plant are poured over with hot water. The infusion is boiled for about 15 minutes and then left to infuse for another 40 minutes. Especially for colds, the tea provides relief. The broth can also be diluted with a little water. Drinking it is extremely effective for coughs. Furthermore, the decoction has a diuretic effect and is drunk by people with diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract. Cloudberry is also used in natural cosmetics. The seeds of the berry are preserved and the oils they contain make the skin particularly soft and supple. Its use is particularly effective in cases of suffering from pigmentation spots and wrinkles. Cloudberry is an ingredient of many creams that can be bought in drugstores. If people suffer from dry and brittle hair, an infusion can be prepared from the leaves, to which a teaspoon of oil of cloudberry, as well as a hen’s egg is added.The mixture is distributed throughout the hair. The mask remains on the head for 30 minutes before rinsing. It is used for the treatment and regeneration of hair. The cloudberry is given in pureed form or as a juice already to children, so as to replenish the vitamin C household. Especially in winter, its intake helps the body to actively fight off viruses and infections. Eating cloudberry regularly increases the vitality of the organism. Cloudberry is used in many areas of everyday life. Due to its low yield, it is one of the most expensive berries in the world. One kilo costs up to seven euros. The plant proves to be very popular and is the emblem of Lapland. The Finnish two-eye coin is also adorned with an image of the cloudberry. It is almost impossible to grow cloudberry by oneself. The expensive berry can be bought in well-stocked wholesale markets. Cloudberry is a common ingredient in dietary supplements. It should only be taken according to the package insert and, if necessary, discussed with a pharmacist or doctor.
