Statistics: pick the best berry

Botanically, strawberries aren't true berries; their tiny “seeds” on the outside are actually individual fruits

Mulberries can stain fingers and clothing intensely purple, especially the darkest varieties

Blueberries can naturally have a waxy coating called “bloom,” which helps protect the fruit

Each raspberry is made of many tiny sections called drupelets, clustered around a central core

Blackberries change from red to deep black as they ripen, but red berries can still taste quite sour

Gooseberries have been cultivated in Europe for centuries and come in green, red, yellow, and purple varieties

Huckleberries have been popular in North America for generations and are strongly associated with wild foraging

Cape gooseberries grow inside papery husks, making the fruit look like a tiny lantern

Blackcurrants are especially rich in vitamin C and have a distinctive tart, fruity flavor

Lingonberries are a Scandinavian favorite and are commonly served alongside savory foods like meatballs

Redcurrants grow in hanging clusters, making their bright red fruits look like tiny strings of jewels

Juniper “berries” are actually modified cones, and they give gin its characteristic flavor

Wineberries have bright red, sticky hairs around their fruits, giving the plants a distinctive appearance

White currants are usually translucent, letting their tiny seeds show through the pale skin

Cloudberries thrive in cold, boggy regions and are especially prized in Nordic countries

Unlike most cultivated blueberries, bilberries usually have dark purple flesh all the way through

Acai berries grow on palm trees in the Amazon rainforest and have a large seed relative to their size

Barberries are small, intensely sour fruits traditionally used in Persian rice dishes and other foods

Marionberries were developed in Oregon and are named after Marion County

Fresh cranberries can bounce because they contain air pockets inside

Loganberries were accidentally created in California in the 19th century by horticulturist James Harvey Logan

Raw elderberries can be toxic, so they are normally cooked before being eaten

Goji berries have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries

Aronia berries are also called chokeberries because their raw, astringent taste can make your mouth feel dry

Salmonberries get their name partly because their orange-pink color can resemble that of salmon

Tayberries are a cross between a blackberry and a raspberry, combining traits of both fruits

The boysenberry is a hybrid involving blackberry, raspberry, and other berries

Sea buckthorn bushes can survive harsh conditions and produce bright orange berries packed tightly along branches

Thimbleberries are hollow inside and fragile, so they are difficult to transport commercially

Dewberries are close relatives of blackberries and often grow along the ground rather than on upright canes

Miracle berries contain miraculin, a protein that temporarily makes sour foods taste sweet

Serviceberries are sometimes called “Juneberries” because many varieties ripen around June