Fruits of various latitudes
Oct 4, 2013
Estonian Life No. 40 2013
The marjad (berries) in this jar are no longer whole, nor are they a "product of Greece", as stated on the label. Greece in Estonian is Kreeka. "The real Mediterranean taste" described the previous occupants of this jar, which were oliivid (olives). The Mediterranean Sea in Estonian is Vahe/meri, meaning the sea in between. The jar's handwritten label speaks of its new contents: TIKRI-PÕLDMARJAMOOS. Tikker is gooseberry, officially known as karus/mari, which refers to the small hairs covering the berry, making it karune or hairy like a bear (karu). Tikrid / karusmarjad are green, sometimes also burgundy, slightly transparent globes.
Põld/mari, literally “field berry” (also
põld/murakas) is that dark cousin of the raspberry known as the European dewberry, whose closest North American relative is the blackberry. This past summer was a banner põldmarja year in Eesti. Another inspiring name for the dew- or pseudo blackberry is
põld/vääne.
Väänlema / väänama means to wriggle, writhe or twist and the dewberry's thorny branches do just that along the rocky borders of fields (
põllud). In its
taas/kasutatud (recycled) vessel, this
moos (jam) is a product of the island of Saaremaa.
Riina Kindlam
