April 28th is NATIONAL BLUEBERRY PIE DAY*
Toast the Day with a
Toast the Day with a
Slice of Blueberry Pie in a Glass:
Some Fun Blueberry Facts You Can Share at Happy Hour:
- Blueberries are one of the only foods that are naturally blue.
- The Blueberry is one of the few fruits that are native to North America (along with cranberries and concord grapes).
- Native Americans called them "star berries," because the five points of blueberry blossoms make a star shape.
- Blueberries were commonly used to make pemmican, a jerky type of dried food packed for sustenance on long journeys.
- Early colonists made gray paint out of blueberries by boiling the blueberries in milk.
- The traditional blue paint used in the homes of Shakers was made from blueberry skins, sage blossoms, indigo, and milk.
- Blueberries often change color when cooked, especially when acids like lemon juice or vinegar are introduced. These will cause the blue pigment in the berries to turn reddish. (Think purple martinis!)
- Blueberry Jelly Bellies were created especially for Ronald Reagan.
- Robert Frost actually wrote a poem about Blueberries.
Some Health Benefits of Blueberries:
- Blueberries contain more antioxidants than most other fruits or vegetables.
- Blueberries are naturally low in both fat and sodium.
- Both domestic and wild blueberries contain brain-saving bioflavonoids, but wild blueberries tend to contain more than the domestic ones.
- The skin of the blueberry contains anthocyanin which helps to account for the blue color as well as being beneficial to health.
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY
