(Swedish , , ) is a Nordic fruit soup made from bilberries (European blueberries), which can be served cold or hot. It is sweet and contains starch, which gives it a fairly thick consistency. It is served either as soup, often together with porridge, or as a drink.
In the United States, Swedish blåbärssoppa is imported and sold under the trade name Blåbär. Blueberry soup can be home-made from bilberries, sugar, water and potato starch,Blåbärssoppa recipe or it can be bought ready-made or in powdered form to mix with water.
The Swedish word for bilberry, blåbär, literally means 'blueberry', but the beverage is not made from the North American blueberry (section Cyanococcus of the genus Vaccinium), but from the related but distinct European blueberry, Vaccinium myrtillus, which grows in the wild throughout Scandinavia and other parts of Europe.
Uses Blueberry soup 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,Bilberry information from RxList Inc. and in Sweden and Finland, blueberry soup is often considered suitable food for people with an upset stomach, also because it is energy-rich.
See also Rose hip soup, another Swedish fruit soup Fruktsoppa, a Swedish mixed-fruit soup Krentjebrij, a Dutch soup or porridge-like dessert with fruit juice Kissel, a jelly dessert or drink sometimes made of fruit
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