wild blueberry vs bilberry, difference between bilberry and blueberry, European blueberry vs American blueberry, bilberry health benefits, wild blueberries in Scandinavia, bilberry vs blueberry taste. you’ve ever wandered through the forests of Scandinavia and picked deep-blue berries from low bushes, you probably called them “wild blueberries.” But did you know those are actually bilberries? And while they look like American blueberries, they are not the same!
Let’s clear the confusion once and for all.
🌍 1. Where Do They Come From?
Bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus):
Native to Europe and Scandinavia, found growing wild in forests across Sweden, Norway, Finland, and other parts of Northern and Central Europe.
Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum / Vaccinium angustifolium):
Native to North America, cultivated widely in the USA, Canada, and now also in Australia and South America.
Wild Blueberries:
In the USA and Canada, “wild blueberries” usually refer to Vaccinium angustifolium, a low-bush variety growing in places like Maine and Nova Scotia.
👉 In Europe, people often call bilberries “wild blueberries,” which causes all the confusion.
🍇 2. What’s the Difference in Taste and Appearance?
Feature Bilberries Blueberries
Size Small Larger
Color (Outside) Dark blue Light blue
Color (Inside) Dark purple throughout Pale green or white inside
Taste Sharp, intense, slightly tangy Mild, sweet, less intense
Juice Stains fingers and mouth purple Minimal staining
Many people — especially from Europe — say bilberries taste better due to their stronger flavor and natural tanginess.
🧬 3. Nutritional and Health Benefits
Both berries are superfoods, but bilberries pack more punch per gram:
Richer in anthocyanins (antioxidants)
May support eye health, reduce inflammation, and improve circulation
Traditionally used in European herbal medicine
Blueberries are also very healthy, often linked to brain health, heart protection, and anti-aging properties, but bilberries generally contain higher antioxidant levels.
🌲 4. How They Grow
Bilberries:
Grow individually or in small groups on low shrubs in the wild. They are not commonly cultivated commercially due to how delicate and slow-growing they are.
Blueberries:
Grow in clusters on larger bushes. Easy to cultivate, machine-harvestable, and available fresh in most supermarkets.
🧺 5. Foraging Tradition in Scandinavia
In countries like Sweden, Finland, and Norway, berry-picking in summer is a cultural tradition. People go out into the forest, fill baskets with bilberries, and make:
Pies (Mustikkapiirakka in Finland)
Jams and syrups
Fresh juices
Frozen snacks
Herbal teas
This practice has continued for thousands of years, and bilberries have fed generations of Scandinavians. So when a Swede says “blueberry,” they almost always mean bilberry!
🇺🇸 6. Living in the US: The Surprise
Many Europeans, when they move to the USA (like the writer of this post who moved to Texas!), are surprised to find that the “blueberries” they buy here are:
Bigger, sweeter
Less flavorful
Not purple inside
It’s because they are American cultivated blueberries, not the wild, tangy bilberries of Europe.
🧠 7. So What Should You Call Them?
Region Local Name Actual Berry
Scandinavia Blueberry / Wild Blueberry Bilberry
USA Blueberry Cultivated Blueberry
USA (Some regions) Wild Blueberry Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium)
To be botanically correct:
European “wild blueberry” = bilberry
American “wild blueberry” = lowbush blueberry
Supermarket blueberry = highbush blueberry
But honestly? Call it whatever you want — just know what you’re eating 😊
✅ Final Thoughts: Two Different Berries, Both Delicious!
Whether you’re picking bilberries in the Nordic forests or snacking on blueberries in a Texas summer, both berries are delicious, nutritious, and part of beautiful traditions.
But yes — they are not the same.
Bilberries are the wild kings of Europe — dark, juicy, powerful.
Blueberries are the gentle giants of North America — sweet, big, and friendly.
Now that you know the difference, you’ll never be confused again — and you can help others understand too!
📌 Quick Summary
Bilberries = European wild berry, darker and stronger in taste.
Blueberries = North American cultivated berry, sweeter and milder.
Same family, different berries.
Both are nutritional powerhouses.
✍️ Author: Real Neel
Founder – World Farming Story