Swamp Amber, "Arctic raspberry", "Northern orange" - as soon as they call this beautiful, tasty and healthy berry. Cloudberry is difficult to cultivate, preferring to grow in the wild, but the craftsmen learned to grow a plant and use its unique properties for their own purposes. Traditional medicine, cosmetology, cooking have long learned about the healing effect of cloudberries, which is a real forest treasure.

What is cloudberry

Cloudberry is a berry that belongs to the species of perennial plants of the Rubus genus of the Pink family. Raspberries fall into the same category, which is often confused with cloudberries that have not been ripened due to the fact that in the initial stages of ripening it has a bright red color, turning pale as it ripens.

For this reason, it is also called "berry on the contrary."

Among other items are found "Royal berry", "Moss currant", The eyes of the swamp, "Swamp guard". The scientific name, meaning the bush itself and its fruits, comes from the ancient Greek and Latin phrases, which translates as "mulberry growing on the ground."

Due to its unusual appearance, the plant is often mentioned in ancient legends, tales and epics, occupying a prominent place among other berries in the folklore of the northern countries.

Did you know? Cloudberry was the favorite berry of Alexander Pushkin, which he asked his wife before his death.

Botanical Description

Cloudberry is a semi-shrub grass growing in height up to 30 cm. The root system is branched and creeping in breadth and in depth to a distance of 2 m. Thin and erect stems form 2-3 leaves and a white flower like raspberry. Wrinkled foliage is not dense, five-conical with rounded edges bordered by small teeth.

The fruit begins to develop in a semi-closed "bowl" that opens as it ripens. The berry is a combined drupe, which looks like a structure of raspberries, mulberries and blackberries. The diameter of the ripened fruit is 1.5 cm, which by the time of full ripeness reaches a transparent bright yellow color and a soft juicy consistency.

The flowering season falls in June - July, and fruiting - in late July - August. The fruits of cloudberries are edible, have a sweet and sour taste, are used independently or are used for further culinary or industrial processing.

Where it grows in nature

An abundance of cloudberry thickets can be found only in the Northern Hemisphere, in the tundra and forest-tundra zones. For its habitat, the plant prefers marshy moist soils in areas with a low temperature difference.

Most often, bushes grow in peat bogs, in swampy forests, mountainous regions, shrubbery with a lot of moss. Strong winds and long torrential rains can be fatal for her. Cloudberry is distributed geographically in the Arctic regions of Russia, Belarus, the Scandinavian countries, Canada, and the USA. In some states, the berry is considered a national symbol.

The habitat of the amber fig tree can be recognized in the neighborhood of the following plants:

• Ledum
• blueberries;
• blueberries;
• dropsy;
• cranberries;
• sphagnum moss;
• dwarf birch.

Did you know? Finns' love for cloudberries is so strong that, in addition to issuing coins with its image, they are the creators of the delicious Lakka Lapponia liqueur made from northern berries.

The chemical composition of the berry

Cloudberry is a rich storehouse of vitamins, nutrients, enzymes and organic acids. Its properties are unique, due to which the berry is a favorite ingredient in medicine, diet and traditional medicine. Ripe berries are sources of sugar, protein and fiber, as well as malic, salicylic and citric acids.

100 g of cloudberries can contain up to 200 mg of vitamin C, a significant amount of vitamins of groups B, E, A and PP. The plant has an abundant composition of minerals and macrocells, among which the first positions are occupied by potassium, phosphorus, aluminum, magnesium, iron, tannins and pectin.

The rich content of dietary fiber, fiber and carotenoids reduces the risk of many diseases. Berries contain anthocyanins, which provide its bright amber color and are used as a natural food supplement.

Beneficial features

The fruits are consumed fresh in the form of jam, compote, juice, jam or jam. The concentration of ascorbic acid in the northern berry is four times higher than its content in oranges, cloudberries are superior to carrots in vitamin A.

The anthocyanins mentioned above reduce the risk of inflammatory reactions and improve digestion function. Useful fruits have antispasmodic and antimicrobial effects, have the ability to rejuvenate and regenerate tissues.

• Their regular use is capable of:
• strengthen immunity;
• to overcome colds;
• improve eyesight;
• increase hemoglobin;
• relieve cramps;
• improve blood circulation function;
• prevent atherosclerosis;
• to prevent cancer;
• neutralize pathogenic microflora;
• beneficial effect on the respiratory system;
• remove toxins from the body.

Fruits steamed in hot water can increase tone and vitality, being a natural energetic. They eliminate vitamin deficiency, inhibit the development of fermentation processes in the intestine, and fight chronic fatigue and impaired digestion processes.

Application

Tasty berry is widely used in cooking, where it is used in its pure form and as the main ingredient for blanks. In addition to folk recipes, fruits have gained popularity in expensive restaurants, where sweet and sour sauce made from cloudberries is served as an addition to meat dishes, and gourmet jellies differ in taste from berries and fruits traditionally used for desserts.

From the fruits of the plant, teas are brewed, alcoholic tinctures made, prepared for drying and soaking for the winter, frozen for consumption in the cold season. The flowers give saturated nectar and pollen to honey bees. In addition to enjoying the refined taste, mankind has long noticed the healing properties of the plant, used in medicine and cosmetology.

Important! Cloudberries are not recommended for children under 1.5 years of age, but even starting from this age, it should only be introduced into complementary foods along with other ingredients.

In folk medicine

The use of cloudberries is the same as for cranberries, raspberries and sea buckthorn. In folk medicine, both the fruits themselves and the leaves, roots, sepals are used (after the plant begins to bloom), from which teas, decoctions and infusions are prepared.

They have a diuretic, antimicrobial, antipyretic, anti-febrile and anti-inflammatory effect. Due to the high concentration of vitamin C, the plant is used to strengthen the body and fight against viral infections.

Since the berry is rich in tocopherols, it is prescribed to pregnant women for the proper development of pregnancy and the bearing of the fetus. Grated berry mixed with honey is one of the best preventative measures for a weakened body.

Infusions of dried roots and leaves are often consumed during cough and cystitis. Fresh juice has long been applied to wounds, cuts and burns were healed to them, and leaves greased on top with fish oil were used to stop the blood.

In cosmetology

Cloudberry is considered the "elixir of youth", which the ancient Russian beauties knew about. Until now, the plant is one of the most popular components for the manufacture of creams, masks, shampoos, gels, lotions in modern cosmetology. Famous brands such as Clean Line, Oriflame, Mirielle, Lumene, Natura Siberica and others produce cosmetics lines with natural cloudberry extract.

It consists of pulp juice and fruit seed oil. The vitamins A and E contained in the extract regenerate the skin, restore complexion, remove pigmented rashes and have a beneficial effect on dry, dehydrated tissues.

• Cosmetics, which include amber berry:
• soothes the skin;
• harmonizes the protective barrier;
• smoothes out fine wrinkles;
• nourishes the skin, restores its firmness and elasticity;
• saturates the hair with useful components, making them healthy and well-groomed.

A nourishing face mask made from mashed pulp can be prepared at home.

Possible harm and contraindications

Cloudberries are an invaluable source of vitamins, however, certain categories of people may have its individual intolerance. Due to the high content of acids, the fruits are contraindicated for use by everyone who suffers from gastritis, stomach ulcers. A high concentration of certain components can cause allergic reactions, expressed as redness and rashes. Also, do not eat cloudberry seeds that irritate the stomach.

Important! Carefully monitor your well-being, enjoying the fruits, if earlier you had problems with the kidneys and liver.

Due to the rich content of nutrients, the “golden berry” has received its inherent resources for healing the body and rejuvenating the skin. It has found application in various fields, is described in poems of great poets and sung by different nationalities of the world, who ascribe to it not only healing, but also magical abilities.