bilberries, blueberries and other vaccinium

[auntieannie]

Bilberries and blueberries are both called "myrtilles" in french.

No wonder I am confused!

Although I do know they are all part of the vaccinium family.

Could you kindly discuss the differences between the two as I get told off much too often for being confoodled.

Many thanks from the bottom of my punnet!

[bixaorellana]

Tripping over with my trug to say that I don't know. I thought bilberries were something that grew very far north, probably in Scandinavia. Blueberries also grow quite far north. I remember picking them as a little girl in Alaska. Blueberries are completely round and smooth and about the size of a standard pearl on a necklace. They are a very deep blue with the merest hint of purple in the color.

[Kimby]

In the US I think of blueberries as being from "back east" and "huckleberries" grow in the western mountains. Hucks are smaller and purpler than blueberries and very flavorful.
I don't have the faintest idea what a bilberry is.

[Deleted]

I have never been sure about exactly what bilberries are other than being mentioned in "Women in Love."

[Deleted]

Oct 25, 2011 6:51:02 GMT Kimby said:

In the US I think of blueberries as being from "back east" and "huckleberries" grow in the western mountains. Hucks are smaller and purpler than blueberries and very flavorful.
I don't have the faintest idea what a bilberry is.

Kimby, we had huckleberries in Mississippi but no blueberries. And I don't think Huckleberry Finn was from the West.

[auntieannie]

well... reading a bit about it. It looks like blueberries originate in the Americas and Bilberries may be european. Although blueberries also grow in Europe.

Must be a British thing. Although it was an Irish man who told me off last for that crime of calling bilberries blueberries... hum...

Let's wait for the European contingent to post their opinion.

[bjd]

I have never heard of bilberries. Maybe it's an Irish name? What I call blueberries are called myrtilles in France. The big Canadian ones are called bleuets in Canadian French.

There is also a difference between airelles and canneberges, although I suppose they are both called cranberries in English.

[mich64]

Blueberry picking is almost as popular as some sports here in our area. We have them everywhere and people go back year after year picking from their favourite spots. During the season, it is a small business for some folks, they do their picking and then sit on the side of the highway and sell, some even set up stalls.

My parents used to gather up every large bowl or pot we could find, pile us five kids into the car and drive to our spot each Sunday in July where we would pick for hours. Once home mom would clean and separate into ample portions and bag them for the freezer. Then all winter we would have blueberry pies, muffins, tarts and loafs.

I will ask my mum about the bilberries, I am sure she will know.

Nice memories.

Cheers,
Mich

[cheerypeabrain]

I grow blueberries here in central England and the plants do very well once established. I haven't seen bilberry plants for sale anywhere...and have never eaten them.

[Deleted]

Mich, in Mississippi, we took the pots and bowls on blackberry expeditions, which were excellent as well. But of course we ate so many while picking that we would only bring back enough for a few cobblers and maybe some to mix with vanilla ice cream.

[mich64]

Kerouac, if you were ever to taste my mother's baking, you would grab every berry you could! Although I do remember us taking one or two handfuls as reward for our picking. Actually, I prefer them cooked to fresh.
Cheers!
Mich

P.S. there was no reward when we go picking mushrooms!

[Kimby]

Oct 25, 2011 9:05:04 GMT kerouac2 said:

Kimby, we had huckleberries in Mississippi but no blueberries. And I don't think Huckleberry Finn was from the West.

Good point, K2. Growing up in the midwest, I never heard of huckleberries (except for Mr. Finn).