Are Fresh Raw Cranberries Actually Edible?

If you're tempted to shove raw cranberries directly into your mouth, think twice before doing so. While raw cranberries are edible, they're bitter due to the high tannin amount.

Tannins are plant compounds that are also found in other notoriously bitter items such as coffee and black tea. So, don't eat raw cranberries expecting a juicy burst of sweetness.

Cranberries are often more palatable because most recipes that make use of them also call for sugar or other sweeteners to balance

out the fruit's natural bitterness.