Lingonberries

Lingonberries

　　Lingonberries, scientifically known as blueberries (blueberry), Vaccinium uliginosum (Vaccinium uliginosuml), or "dusi." They are wild deciduous shrubs of the genus Vaccinium in the Ericaceae family. When ripe, their berries are blue-purple, spherical or oval in shape, with a powdery white bloom on the skin. They are a specialty of the Greater Khingan Mountains (most of which lie within Inner Mongolia) and the Lesser Khingan Mountains, located in Heilongjiang Province and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

　　According to testing by the National Research Center for Certified Reference Materials, lingonberry juice contains 19 types of amino acids, including all eight essential amino acids required by the human body, in well-balanced proportions. In addition, the juice has been found to contain vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, and especially the anti-cancer element — selenium. Notably, it is especially rich in vitamins A, B, and C. Per 100 grams of fresh fruit, it contains approximately 0.27g of protein, about 6g of carbohydrates (mainly glucose and fructose), around 2.3g of organic acids such as citric acid and malic acid, 0.25mg of carotene, and an impressive 53mg of vitamin C. Moreover, its nutrients are highly bioavailable and easily absorbed and utilized by the human body. The berries are edible and can also be used to make wine.