National Blueberry Pie Day 2023: On April 28, National Blueberry Pie Day, we celebrate the beauty of nature’s only true blue fruit baked in a flaky, buttery crust. It just so happens that at the time of this holiday, the first ripe, plump berries in North America will be available to be picked, dusted with sugar, and baked. This underappreciated dessert has profound roots in the colonial history of the United States, and we intend to tell you all about them over a piping hot slice of this syrupy blue delight.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL BLUEBERRY PIE DAY
The blueberry pie, which typically consists of a traditional pie crust filled with a berry mixture, sugars, flour, and lemon juice, is a type of victory dessert. Before the United States became an independent nation, Native Americans lived off the soil and subsisted on blueberries, which they called star berries.
Blueberries are a trendy addition to ice cream and a healthy addition to our morning smoothies in modern times. During the colonial era, Native Americans pulverised and dehydrated the small purple spheres and used the resulting powder as an all-year dietary supplement. Blueberries, now considered a delicacy, are loaded with antioxidants, phytoflavonoids, potassium, and vitamin C. Some historians hypothesise that the earliest settlers in North America may not have survived their first winter in the new country had it not been for the blueberry.
As civilization continued to expand and farmers began cultivating produce at a much higher rate, American settlers were no longer in such dire need of nutrients and could begin to consume friendly fruits more for their flavour than for their nutritional value. In these periods, the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the blueberry evolved into the celebrated dessert ingredient it is today.
The original blueberry pie was made with wild blueberries from (you guessed it!) Maine, where the fruit thrives abundantly without human intervention. The blueberry pie remains Maine’s official delicacy. Despite the fact that apple pie appears to be the most stereotypically American dessert, we believe that blueberry pie is.
HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL BLUEBERRY PIE DAY
Explore a blueberry field.
During the harvest season, many family farms in states across the nation welcome visitors with containers in hand to pick their own berries. Rather than simply grabbing a box of berries from the produce section, you will be supporting a local business and learning about the origin of the berries.
Bake a pie!
On this holiday, you must perform one very simple task: consume a piece of blueberry pie. Why not undergo the entire process of creating your own? Here’s an idea: Before baking, add a touch of cornflour to your blueberries to prevent a runny pie.
Amaze your neighbour.
You must know someone who could use a springtime pick-me-up. You won’t spend any additional time baking two desserts, and you’ll be able to celebrate the holiday with someone else. Also, you might even make a new acquaintance in the neighbourhood!
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5 FACTS ABOUT PIE THAT WILL MAKE YOUR TEETH SWEET
There are crust disputes
Keeping the crust attached to the filling is one of the greatest pie challenges; some bakers vow by pre-baking the crust before adding the filling, while others insist on putting the crust in raw with the pie intact.
It was once practical
Prior to the invention of refrigerators, the purpose of the crust on top of a pie was to preserve the content; by covering the fruits inside with a hard covering, families could keep them fresh for longer.
Pilgrims used them to save themselves.
Because it required significantly less time, effort, and money to prepare than bread, pie was a popular colonial dinner staple.
It has delicious progenitors
The first pies, which were created in Britain centuries ago, were initially filled with meat and vegetables.
They create magnificent canvases
Due to the malleability of pie dough, chefs can create intricate designs with pie crusts.
Why We Love Blueberry Pie Day
It broadens our palettes
Although blueberry pie was once an extremely popular delicacy, its decline in popularity has relegated it to obscurity. We adore this holiday because it gives us the opportunity to bake a delectable dessert (with health benefits!) that we haven’t eaten in a while, if ever, and we enjoy trying new things.
Eating blueberries in spring just makes logic
The environmental impact of eating out-of-season fruits and vegetables is tremendous, but we don’t have to worry about that today. The scrumptiously delectable celebrations take place at the ideal time of year for gathering ripe wild berries, so we could actually be contributing by savouring these indigo juices.
Rebirth of a culinary technique
Cookies, cakes, brownies, and, of course, ice cream are popular delicacies in the twenty-first century. As delectable as it is, pie appears to have fallen out of favour. But by the end of April, we’ll be able to bring out the flour, butter, and freshly picked berries and try our hand at this beautiful sensory culinary art. Yum!
NATIONAL BLUEBERRY PIE DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | April 28 | Friday |
| 2024 | April 28 | Sunday |
| 2025 | April 28 | Monday |
| 2026 | April 28 | Tuesday |
| 2027 | April 28 | Wednesday |
