Bilberry vs Blueberry

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) is a small shrub growing on hilly heaths and underbush throughout Central and Northern Europe. It grows wild in the Northern European forests and, differently from blueberry, that is a cultivated hybrid of three native American species (V.corymbosum, V. ashei and V. angustifolium), its fruits are not produced in clusters, but only as single, or rarely, twin fruit. Additionally differences between these two berries are the fruit size, as bilberries are smaller and darker than blueberries, and the pulp color. 

Bilberry bush with single fruits

 

 

 

Blueberry bush with cluster fruits

 

Bilberries pulp is blue, that of blueberries is greenish. While bilberries are harder, less juicy and easier to transport than blueberries.

 

Bilberry red flesh vs blueberry greenish pulp.

 

Flesh color and crown differences in bilberries and blueberries

 

Bilberries are hand picked while blueberries are machinery picked

 

          
Bilberry pickers in Sweden

 

Bilberry just after picking in Sweden

 

Finally bilberries and blueberries have a different phytochemical profile and anthocyanins content of bilberry fresh fruits is almost 4 times higher in bilberries  than in blueberries.

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) HPLC fingerprint

Blueberriy (Vaccinium corymbosum) HPLC fingerprint

 

 

 

More pictures        

 

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