We get Blueberries only in Supermarkets in the Uk, I don't think they are indigenous to Britain. I always find them a bit tasteless and astringent.
Now a native berry species we have here is Bilberries. These little black devils are smaller than blueberries but they are packed with a wonderful flavour and gentle tartness. My mother used to get them from a guy that sold fruit and veg door to door. About once a year we would have Bilberry pie which was to die for. I used to love it. I haven't seen a bilberry since then for 40 to 50 years. They are not susceptible to commercial farming so have to be gathered from the wild and whilst they are not rare or endangered, they only grow in northern counties in the UK and are pretty common in the cooler climates of Eastern and Northern Europe. You don't find them imported bottled or frozen even in specialist shops. I note that there are zillions of bilberry extracts and nostrum dietary supplements on Amazon and even freeze dried bilberries. What good are they? They will turn to powder as soon as you handle them.
I also note that bilberries are also named wild blueberries. I wonder if that's what you were collecting, JMF?
John
