Paektusan Bog Bilberry

 

Paektusan bog bilberry is one of specialties of Korea.

Koreans have a long history of using the bog bilberry in their life.

According to old records, bog bilberry grown in the Kapsan area of Ryanggang Province was famous. Locals called it “Tuljuk” and preserved it in honey like strawberry before eating.

Ryanggang Province, where stands Mt Paektu, is well-known across the country for having large resources of bog bilberry. The plant thrives on the Paengmu Plateau, and Hwangsuwon and other alpine regions in the Mt Paektu area. Bog bilberry fields sprawl over tens of thousands of hectares.

Bog bilberry contains protein, crude fat, pectin, flavonoid, and various vitamins including vitamin C. It is efficacious in preventing and treating the diseases of cardiovascular and circulatory systems. It promotes metabolism, relieves coughing, binds the bowels, reduces the fever and detoxifies drug poisoning. Anthocyanin, an element of bog bilberry, strengthens blood vessels and improves eyesight. Juicy or dried bog bilberry has an effect on controlling the blood-sugar levels of a diabetic.

Taking large amounts of bog bilberry is helpful to curing acute and chronic enterocolitis, tonsillitis and urinary tract infection, retarding skin aging and removing wrinkles.

Dr. Yun Hyon Guk, researcher of bog bilberry laboratory in the Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute under Hyesan University of Agriculture and Forestry, said: Bog bilberry is a pride of the country, as well as a specialty of Mt Paektu.

At present, many countries and regions cultivate bog bilberry. But the Paektusan bog bilberry enjoys the sweeping popularity as it grows in the clean forests and flatlands around Mt Paektu.

Researchers put fresh bog bilberry branches in glass tubes with nutritive liquid to sprout them, ensuring a high survival rate. They also introduce the tissue culture to mass-produce superior species of saplings by an industrial method.

The Paektusan Bog Bilberry Processing Factory and the Samjiyon Bog Bilberry Drink Factory produce jam, carbonated drink, fermented vinegar drink and other goods, steadily increasing their varieties.

Besides, the Kumkhop General Foodstuff Factory for Sportspersons, the forestry products exchange company under the Academy of Forestry and other small units in Pyongyang produce tea, Eskimo pie, candy and biscuit with Paektusan bog bilberry, thus rendering services to promoting the people’s health.