European blueberry, also called bilberry or whortleberry is a perennial prostrate shrub growing in the wild all over Poland. The species grows most often in coniferous forests, in heaths, bogs, and beech or oak stands. Bilberries prefer shady areas.

The shrubs grow up to 15-60 cm in the mountains. A single shrub may cover the area of even a few metres – as blueberries develop, they can cover large areas. Their thin, numerous stems are covered with many small, about 1.5 cm long leaves. Their single flowers, which are initially white, transform into green fruits, which become red and finally dark purple as they ripen. They are from 5 to 10 mm in diameter.
For centuries, bilberries have been valued for their numerous therapeutic properties. The most important of them include fighting diarrhoea and constipation – they are believed to be an antidote to poisoning. Dried leaves have bactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties. They improve vision. In the kitchen, bilberries are a must-have ingredient in the Polish pierogi, and they are processed into jams, ice cream, and alcoholic beverages and cocktails.