Blåbärssoppa

Blåbärssoppa, "blueberry soup", is a Swedish drink made from bilberries, which can be served cold or hot. The drink is sweet and contains starch which gives it a fairly thick consistency.

In the USA, blåbärssoppa is imported and sold under the trade name "Blåbär", despite the fact that it is not made from the North American blueberry (section "Cyanococcus" of the genus "Vaccinium") but from the bilberry, "Vaccinium myrtillus", which grows in the wild throughout Scandinavia and other parts of Europe. The Swedish word for bilberry, "blåbär", literally means "blue berry".

Blåbärssoppa can be home made from bilberries, sugar, water and potato starch, [ [http://www.vasaloparen.se/food_article.jsp?d_id=485 Blåbärssoppa recipe] sv icon] or it can be bought ready-made or in powdered form, to mix with water.

Uses

Blåbärssoppa is traditionally served to the participants at the ski marathon Vasaloppet, as it is rich in energy. Bilberries have traditionally been used to combat mild gastrointestinal ailments, [ [http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/alt/bilberry_faq.htm Bilberry] information from RxList Inc.] and in Sweden, blåbärssoppa is often considered suitable food for people with stomach upsets, also because it is energy-rich.

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