Bearberry

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

fruit

Mealy red berries, bland raw, cooked into compote or fried in fat by Native American peoples and the Inuit.

Origin

Mountains and cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere

Where to find it

It carpets the ground of open pine woods, rocks and sandy heaths; its leaves are sold in herbal shops as “uva-ursi”.

Season (United States)

August to October

Preparation

Its leaves, very rich in arbutin, are not drunk as a tea for more than a few days; the berries, though, are eaten cooked.

Molecules

In small amounts, not counted Pectins · Insoluble fibers

Did you know?

Its Latin name, uva-ursi, means “bear's grape”: bears feast on them.