History of Dried Cranberry
Cranberries are low shrubs or vines up to two metres long. The common cranberry is native to North America due to the cool temperatures, but they also grow across the Northern Hemisphere, including Northern Asia and Northern Europe. In 2017, the United States, Canada, and Chile accounted for 98% of the world production of cranberries. Its flower buds, formed on short, upright shoots, open from May or June, with the berries ripening by late September or early October.
In Northern American, cranberries were first used for food and dye. Historically, Native Americans used cranberries as a treatment for bladder and kidney diseases, while Early settlers from England used them to treat poor appetite, stomach complaints, blood disorders, and scurvy. In 1667, New Englanders sent ten barrels of cranberries to King Charles as a means of appeasement for his anger over their local coining of the Pine-tree shilling. In 2014, the total area of cranberries harvested in the United States was over forty-thousand acres with Wisconsin as the largest producer. Now, cranberry sales are traditionally associated with the holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Dried cranberries are made by dehydrating fresh cranberries and adding sugar. Temperatures are kept between 50˚C and 60˚C as this is the optimum temperature range for drying and retaining nutritional content. Dried fruit has a long tradition of use dating back to the 4000 BC and is prized because of its sweet taste, nutritive value, and long shelf-life.
Cranberries contain lots of nutrients and carries plenty of health benefits:
- The fibre in cranberries improves digestion and overall gut health. One cup of cranberries has about five grams of fibre. Plus, fibre keeps you fuller for longer.
- They contain lots of Vitamin C which boosts the immune system and helps the body fight back when you have the flu.
- Cranberries are considered a superfood due to their high nutrient and antioxidant content. These help to lower risk of UTI, certain types of cancer, and decreased blood pressure.
- Cranberries contain high levels of PACs (an antioxidant) which benefits oral health and prevents gum disease.
- They also contain B Vitamins and Vitamin E which helps immune function.
- Dried cranberries contain the same nutrients as fresh cranberries (notably dietary fibre and antioxidants).
- However, commercial drying processes substantially reduce the Vitamin A and Vitamin C content.
Cranberries Nutrition Value
| Energy kJ | 1462 kJ/100g |
|---|---|
| Energy kcal | 346 kcal/100g |
| Fats | 1,5g/100g |
| Of which saturated fatty acids | 0,1g/100g |
| Carbohydrates | 74,6g/100g |
| Of which sugars | 74,6g/100g |
| Protein | 1,8g/100g |
| Salt | 0,012g/100g |
Ingredients
Sugar, Cranberries, Sunflower oil
General Information about Dried Cranberries
Most cranberries are processed into products such as juice, sauce, jam, and sweetened dried cranberries, with the remainder sold fresh to consumers. Cranberry sauce is a traditional accompaniment to turkey at Christmas dinner in the United Kingdom, and at Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners in the United States and Canada. 95% of cranberries are processed and used to make cranberry juice and sauce. Cranberry juice is often used in cocktails such as the Cosmopolitan. Dried cranberries are used in granola, salads, breads and cereals.
Looking for a gift tray dried fruit selection for friends or family? The Walnut Tree has many gift trays with dried cranberries such as our octagonal dried fruit gift baskets or silver dried fruit gift tray.
Walnut Tree Gifts
Read more about us, our story, the Great Taste Awards we’ve won and why we have a passion for superior tasting gifts and snacks.
Walnut Tree Gifts is one of the UK’s leading packers of superior quality dried fruit, nuts and chocolate. We’ve been working in partnership with high-quality retailers since 1995. We are privileged to supply prestigious London stores, palaces, castles, stately homes, garden centres, delicatessens, farm shops, hamper companies, department stores and gift shops with corporate or Walnut Tree custom made gifts.
We’re the only company with Great Taste Awards for marron glacé, glacé fruit, dark chocolate ginger and pate de fruit, so you’re never more than a click away from some delicious delicacies. The website is open 24/7. We will dispatch your order within 48 hours.
All gifts purchased include a complimentary gift bag and card. Choosing a meaningful gift can be difficult – we’re always happy to offer advice. Call or email us. We pride ourselves on our excellent service.
You’ll be delighted to know that as you’re buying directly from the source, you’ll be getting excellent value for your money. And if you’re not happy with your purchase, we’ll refund or replace it.
This year, Walnut Tree is supporting Future Dreams Breast Cancer Charity with dried fruit and nuts for the care packages they distribute to patients in hospitals throughout London. www.futuredreams.org.uk