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藍莓 - Blueberries
藍莓,狹義是指一群越橘屬越橘亞屬青液果組(Cyanococcus)的開花植物,廣義上可以包括越橘屬中長有藍色漿果的所有物種。這些種的植物原生於北美洲與東亞,為灌木,高度可從10公分到4公尺;矮小種稱為「矮叢藍莓」(lowbush blueberries),而高大種稱為「高叢藍莓」(highbush blueberries)。葉可為落葉性或長青性,葉形卵圓形到披針形,長1到8公分,寬0.5到3.5公分。花朵為鐘形,顏色從白色、桃色到紅色都有,有時帶有淡淡的綠色調。果實在植物學上是假果,直徑5到16公釐,帶有喇叭形的冠在末端;一開始呈淺綠色,然後轉為紅紫色,最後成為藍色或深紫色,此時成熟可以採收。成熟時帶有甜甜的風味,而酸度各異。越橘屬中的其他亞屬,包括了其他可食用漿果的野生灌木,例如小紅莓、山桑子與越橘。藍莓的產季從每年五月到十月,在七月達最高峰。中國北方出產的篤斯越橘(Vaccinium uliginosum,又稱都柿、篤斯)的也常被稱作藍莓。 |
用途
藍莓 (又稱藍草莓)用在果凍、果醬、冰淇淋與派等甜點上,也會加入瑪芬中烘培。它是許多點心與佳餚的成分之一。許多烘培製品會加入人造藍莓調味,事實上是不含真正藍莓成分。藍莓果醬是由藍莓、糖、水與果膠所組成的果醬。商品包裝的果醬通常含有化學防腐劑,如檸檬酸。頂級的藍莓果醬在加拿大與美國出產,採用野生藍莓;其體型較小,也不易收成,但口感較栽培藍莓更為強烈。主要產地在美國緬因州、加拿大安大略省西北以及魁北克的聖約翰湖區(Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean)。藍莓,尤其是野生種,含有抗氧化劑,可以減低癌症發生的機會。在2004年國際長壽會議(International Conference on Longevity),一些研究者釋放出一項研究的細節,顯示藍莓中一些特定化合物 (以及一些相似植物,例如小紅莓)對於腦功能退化的抑制有強烈影響,相關疾病包括了阿茲海默症。美國羅格斯大學的研究者也展示了藍莓可能可以防止泌尿道感染。40克新鮮藍莓包含了3克的膳食纖維與14毫克維他命C。藍莓亦含有大量有利於視網膜的花青素,以及豐富的維生素A、維生素E、類胡蘿蔔素、鉀和鋅。 栽植 北美洲 -- 藍莓可分為栽培種與野生種。在北美洲最常栽培的品種是北方高叢藍莓(V. corymbosum)。與越橘屬的其他品種雜交產生的種類則可以適應美國南部的氣候,這些種常合稱作南方高叢藍莓。 野生藍莓通常較小,價值卻高於栽培藍莓,因其有更強烈的味道與更鮮明的顏色。矮叢藍莓(V. angustifolium)出現在紐芬蘭,向西、向南直到密西根州與西維吉尼亞州。某些地區有時會出現一大片天然的藍莓植被,這些天然的藍莓園裡面通常只會生長單一種類的藍莓。在加拿大安大略省已經有數個第一原住民社區在採收野生的藍莓。矮叢藍莓的種類可以忍受野火的侵襲,在森林火災發生過後,藍莓果實的產量常會增加,這是因為藍莓的再生力迅速,而且大火也同時燒掉了一些與藍莓競爭的植物。 美國緬因州是矮叢藍莓最大宗產地。緬因州生產的藍莓大約需要五萬箱蜂箱的蜜蜂,才能完成藍莓授粉的工作,而其中大部份的蜜蜂蜂箱,都是由別的州用卡車運進來的。 密西根州、紐約州、紐澤西州與北卡羅來納州則為高叢藍莓的大宗產地。 奧勒岡州、華盛頓州與加拿大英屬哥倫比亞目前正發展成藍莓大宗產地;而加州則正快速栽植中。 兔眼藍莓(V. virgatum)則為一種南方品種的藍莓,產地遍及南、北卡羅萊納州與墨西哥灣沿岸數州。 在北美洲也很重要的其他藍莓種類,包括有原產於美國東部的旱地藍莓,本種在阿帕拉契和皮埃蒙特非常普遍。原產於美國東南部的臼莓(V. arboreum),在沙質土壤的地區是一種常見的野生藍莓,它的果實可以做為野生動物的食物,花對蜂農而言則是重要的蜜源植物。 南美洲 -- 目前智利是世界第二大藍莓出口國,僅次於美國。 東方 臺灣 -- 臺灣原先引進藍莓時,以清境農場等高冷地帶為主要種植區域,產量不大。而目前在臺北建國假日花市亦有花販出售藍莓,標示上卻是分為「原生種」與「暖地種」,推斷為北方藍莓種系與南方藍莓種系的別稱。 中國大陸 -- 青島市黃島區於2001年試種藍莓成功,現已發展成為全國種植面積最大、產業化水平最高的藍莓種苗中心和生產基地,於2013年舉辦首屆青島國際藍莓節暨中國國際藍莓大會。 在黑龍江北部天然生長著篤斯越橘(但並不屬於青液果組),大興安嶺地區行政公署所在地加格達奇在2009年舉辦了首屆國際藍莓山貨節。當地也栽培有歐美品種的藍莓。 |
Blueberries (藍莓)
Blueberries are perennial flowering plants with indigo-colored berries from the section Cyanococcus within the genus Vaccinium (a genus that also includes cranberries and bilberries). Species in the section Cyanococcus are the most common fruits sold as "blueberries" and are native to North America (commercially cultivated highbush blueberries were not introduced into Europe until the 1930s). They are usually erect, but sometimes prostrate shrubs varying in size from 10 centimeters (3.9 in) to 4 meters (13 ft) tall. In commercial blueberry production, smaller species are known as "lowbush blueberries" (synonymous with "wild"), and the larger species are known as "highbush blueberries". The leaves can be either deciduous or evergreen, ovate to lanceolate, and 1–8 cm (0.39–3.1 in) long and 0.5–3.5 cm (0.20–1.4 in) broad. The flowers are bell-shaped, white, pale pink or red, sometimes tinged greenish. The fruit is a berry 5–16 millimeters (0.20–0.63 in) in diameter with a flared crown at the end; they are pale greenish at first, then reddish-purple, and finally dark blue when ripe. They are covered in a protective coating of powdery epicuticular wax, colloquially knows as the "bloom".[3] They have a sweet taste when mature, with variable acidity. Blueberry bushes typically bear fruit in the middle of the growing season: fruiting times are affected by local conditions such as altitude and latitude, so the height of the crop can vary from May to August depending upon these conditions. () |
Health Benefits of Blueberries
◾ Blueberries are very low in calories. 100 g fresh berries provide only 57 calories. However, they possess notable health benefiting plant-nutrients such as soluble dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins, and pigment anti-oxidants that contribute immensely towards optimum health and wellness. ◾ Blueberries are among the highest anti-oxidant value fruits. The ORAC value of 100 g fresh blueberry is 5562 TE (Trolex equivalents). Their antioxidant value largely derived from poly-phenolic anthocyanidin compounds such as chlorogenic acid, tannins, myricetin, quercetin and kaempferol. ◾ In addition, these berries have other flavonoid anti-oxidants such as carotene-β, lutein and zea-xanthin. ◾ Altogether, the phyto-chemical compounds in the blueberry help rid off harmful oxygen-derived free radicals from the body, and thereby, protect the human body against cancers, aging, degenerative diseases, and infections. ◾ Further, research studies suggest that chlorogenic acid in these berries help lower blood sugar levels and control blood-glucose levels in type-II diabetes mellitus condition. ◾ Fresh berries contain a small amount of vitamin C, vitamin A and vitamin E. Altogether these vitamins work as potent anti-oxidants, which help limit free radical mediated injury to the body. ◾ The berries also contain a small amount of B-complex group of vitamins such as niacin, pyridoxine, folates and pantothenic acid. It contains very good amounts of vitamin B-6, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and folic acid. These vitamins are acting as co-factors help the body metabolize carbohydrates, protein, and fats. ◾ Furthermore, they contain a good amount of minerals like potassium, manganese, copper, iron and zinc. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Copper is required for the production of red blood cells. Iron is required for red blood cell formation. |