As a child, I loved everything to do with fairies. I devoured books and encyclopedias, sat enthralled in front of animated movies, and created miniature houses for the elusive creatures in several local parks. I imagined that fairies would be thrilled at finding a cozy twig-roofed hut nestled between tree roots, furnished with a moss bed, stone table, and acorn top tableware for rainwater soup. When my go-to pastime was daydreaming about enchanted beings and magical worlds, life seemed much more adventurous and exciting.
I’m reminded of that whimsical mindset when thinking about how just-washed blackberries have a small space for a bead of water to rest. My childhood whispers that blackberries would make perfect edible cups or even hats for fairy folk.
For humans, blackberries have not only a fun shape but numerous health benefits, mainly due to their anthocyanin and manganese content. According to BBC Good Food, anthocyanin helps prevent heart disease, and the National Library of Medicine says that anthocyanin also improves overall health with its antimicrobial properties and acts as a food source for the good bacteria that live in the digestive tract. Manganese helps boost brainpower, prevent cell damage, and keeps one’s immune system healthy. Even though fairies may not exist (that we know of ;)) the almost magical properties of blackberries are very real!
Blackberries are best freshly picked, but I am happy to report that Azure Market Natural Frozen Blackberries (FG010) taste almost as good! They come packaged in a five pound bag that is specially frozen so the berries stick together less, but if you put them in your home freezer (like I did) you will end up with a block of icy blackberries to chip away at later. After securing a small bowl’s worth of berries, I brought them to the kitchen table to thaw, and it’s safe to say that straight out of the freezer they’ll need an hour at least before they’re fully unfrozen. But once they are free from their frigid blankets of ice, these berries are bursting with sweet-tart goodness. That bowlful had some variety in taste, ranging from almost sugary sweet to tart. After eating just a few, my fingers were stained with bright magenta juice, which I’ve never experienced with organic grocery store blackberries. I can’t wait to add them to my granola with some yoghurt, or even try adding them to smoothies, muffins, or pies!
The simple taste of blackberries takes me back to my childhood mindset of wonder and reminds me of how great life is if we only look for what is good. This can be as simple as finding fairy cups in berries or watching the sunset — or eating delicious blackberries with your loved ones.
What foods remind you of the wonder of living abundantly? Let us know in the comments below!
SOURCES:
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Manganese-Consumer/
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/health/nutrition/health-benefits-blackberries