Lingonberry. Leningrad region

Lingonberry (Latin: Vaccinium vitis-idaea) is a small evergreen shrub of the Vaccinium genus in the Heath family. Lingonberry leaves are covered with a dense, glossy skin, and the dark red berries are known for their health benefits and bright, sour flavor.

Lingonberries grow in various regions of Russia, but they are especially abundant in the Leningrad region. In the fall, the forests here are covered with red carpets of lingonberries, and local residents go on quiet hunts for these tasty and healthy berries. The best harvest usually occurs in September when the fruits are full of juice.

"Traditionally, people go to the Vsevolozhsky, Gatchinsky, and Kirovsky districts for lingonberries," notes biologist Pavel Glazkov, Ph.D.

Although lingonberries are wild plants, many nurseries in the region cultivate berry crops, such as "Vremena Goda" (lit. “Seasons”) or LPH "Koporye-Shirokovo." Lingonberries were first cultivated in 1745 during the reign of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. Initially, the berry grew in gardens, and the first plantations began to appear in the 1960s.

In Russia, this berry was called “brusnika” for a reason; the name came from the word "brusvyaniy," which was an old pronunciation of "red." There's also a saying: "No ailment can befall lingonberry." This is because its berries and leaves contain many beneficial substances: vitamins, organic acids, tannins, and pectins. Thus, lingonberries can have anti-inflammatory, diuretic, choleretic, and hemostatic effects.

In the past, lingonberry infusions and decoctions were used to treat colds and flu, and even today, natural lingonberry juice can benefit a body weakened by fever. Regular consumption of this vitamin-rich berry can strengthen the immune system and help you forget about illnesses altogether.

Lingonberries are delicious on their own and as part of various dishes. Therefore, their berries are widely used in the cuisine of the Leningrad region, with lingonberry sauces and pie fillings being particularly popular. You can try dishes with lingonberries in almost every establishment in the region.

Lingonberries can also replace coffee. If you dry the berries, then roast and grind them, and brew the resulting powder, you get a very tasty drink with a coffee-like flavor and pleasant aroma. This makes a healthy coffee alternative, as good as chicory.

Interestingly, the size of the lingonberry shrub can indicate whether the conditions are suitable for it. If a bush grows up to a meter high, don't be too pleased, as this means the conditions are not ideal for growth. A healthy plant in good conditions will grow no more than 30 cm high.

There is a legend about the lingonberry. Once, a swallow obtained the water of life and decided to bring it to people in its beak. But a wicked wasp stung the swallow, causing it to drop the precious drops. They touched the pine, cedar, and lingonberry, forever granting them the gift of eternal life and bright green leaves.

The lingonberry is truly a long-lived plant. A lingonberry bush can live up to 300 years. So, by planting one, a person leaves a legacy for their descendants for centuries to come.