Postcard from Ukraine : Kalyna Berries
Guelder rose berries, called kalyna in Ukrainian, taste like cranberries and have a bitter-sour scent reminiscent of almonds and lingonberries. After the frost hits them, they lose their tannic pungency and become sweeter. They’re known to be a panacea for colds and sore throats, but we leave ours for the birds. The truth is that we prefer their red glimmer among the bare branches. No other sight is more quintessentially Ukrainian. No other plant has richer symbolic meaning.
In Ukrainian folklore, kalyna represents female beauty–the effervescence of youth with its delicate white flowers and mature sensuality with its red berries. Red stands for passion, and so the crimson hue of the berries represents love. If you look closer at Ukrainian embroideries, you can see kalyna berries and flowers telling their story of life coming a full circle.
Glyzel Guey in Spring Perfume Round-Up: Scents in Bloom for Every Budget: What a lovely selection of spring blooms you’ve captured the season’s lighter, fresher side beautifully! I’m always hunting for new floral and green scents this time of year, and I… June 11, 2025 at 12:36pm