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Cranberry: The "Northern Lemon" and the Seafaring Berry

• Etymology and Names: In English it is called cranberry (from crane berry) — the nodding flowers resemble the neck and head of a crane. The same image is preserved in French (canneberge) and German (Kranichbeere). The first mentions date back to 1550.
• The Seafaring Berry: Cranberries can float thanks to four air chambers inside. This property is used in industrial harvesting: plantations are flooded with water and the berries float up like a scarlet carpet.
• A Natural Antibiotic: Type-A proanthocyanidins contained in cranberries block the attachment of bacteria to the body's cells more effectively than many synthetic drugs. Native Americans used them for centuries to heal wounds.
• Salvation from Scurvy: Sailors called cranberry the "northern lemon". Barrels of berries covered with water were a must on ships — it saved the crew from scurvy during long voyages.
• Phenomenal Shelf Life: Fresh cranberries keep for up to a year in plain water without preservatives. This is possible thanks to the high content of benzoic and quinic acids, which suppress bacteria.
• The "Bouncing" Berry (Rare Fact): A ripe and firm cranberry should bounce off a wooden surface like a rubber ball. This principle is used in industry for the mechanical separation of the best raw material.
• Global Geography and Harvest: The harvest season runs from September to November. We supply raw material from Russia, Poland, Scandinavia, the USA and Canada, where varieties with the maximum content of anthocyanins and dry matter are grown.
• Product History: Industrial concentration became widespread in the mid-20th century in the USA. The use of vacuum evaporators made it possible to create a stable 65 Brix concentrate while preserving the tart taste and ruby color.