Since moving to Connecticut and planting in my own yard I have been fascinated by the different edible berries other than the common blueberry or strawberry. I have planted and written about gooseberry, chokeberry and other berries.
Crowberry ( Empertrum nigrum )is a creeping dwarf shrub growing in New York and Vermont. The name empertrum literally means "growing on rocks". It grows in bogs and thrives in acidic soil
It flowers in May or June and are minute tiny pink or purple in color. The berries ripen in July through November. he harvesting or picking has a long season. Some plants yield a small harvest and some are abundant in its berries. I find the berries to be tasty and juicy.
The taste of crowberries are somewhat acrid and are generally used for making pies, wine, jams, jellies, etc. They are an excellent source of fibre and antioxidants - even better than blueberries. They are high in vitamins C and K. Crowberry is used for smoking fish in some northern cultures.
The berry fruit is said to have anti inflammatory, anti bacterial and even anti fungal properties