Blackcurrants - Delicious and Good for You
The blackcurrant is another great summer fruit. I love the smell of blackcurrants and their foliage when they are growing in the garden. The berry has a strong, delicious flavour but without being too sweet or cloying. In fact, most people eat it cooked and sweetened.
It's not just their flavour, though, that makes them such a favourite in Europe. They are a very good source of vitamins and antioxidants to the extent that they are often promoted as a superfood.
Blackcurrants make lovely summer desserts, preserves and jellies and I'll share a favourite recipe with you here.
Contents
- Blackcurrants and the USA
- Is the Blackcurrant a Superfood?
- Frank Cook Talks about the Blackcurrant
- Getting Hold of Blackcurrants in the USA
- Blackcurrant Crumble Recipe
- Fizzy Blackcurrant Sorbet
- Nana Ruth's Blackcurrant Jam and Scones
- The blackcurrant harvest on the Queen's Sandringham Estate
- More about Fruit
- Love This Lens?
- Do you like Blackcurrants?
- About Me
Blackcurrants and the USA
Blackcurrants
Copyright © Andedam - Creative Commons License
Until the beginning to the 20th century, blackcurrants were very popular in the United States but then they were banned because they were a carrier for the white pine blister rust which threatened the American logging industry.
It was a federal ban until 1966 when it was moved to the jurisdiction of individual states. Many states continued to ban it but a few, like New York, Vermont and Oregon, allowed it to be grown once more.
Unfortunately, it is still not as well known or popular as it is in Europe but I expect that will change as Americans find out what a delicious and nutritious fruit it is.
Blackcurrant Ice Cream Sundae
Copyright © MadMan the Mighty - Creative Commons License
Is the Blackcurrant a Superfood?
I'm not happy with labeling anything a 'superfood' because one of the keystones of good nutrition is a balanced diet. Even so, it would be foolish not to include those foods that are particularly rich in nutrients, and are sometimes called superfoods, in our diet.
Blackcurrants certainly qualify in this category. A 100g of blackcurrants contains a massive 302% of an adult's daily requirement of Vitamin C. It is rich in potassium, phosphorus, iron and Vitamin B5. This is why it was given to children in the UK during World War II when imported fruit, a valuable source of Vitamin C, was no longer available.
Blackcurrants also contain valuable trace minerals, phytochemicals, fatty acids and other micro-nutrients thought to be essential to fighting disease, cancer and infection.
Picture: A Defrosting Blackcurrant
Copyright © Eleda 1 Creative Commons License
Duerr's Blackcurrant Preserves 16oz
Amazon Price: $5.99 (as of 12/23/2009)
I can truthfully say that this is one of my favourite preserves and that I buy it regularly in the supermarket here in England. If you've never tasted blackcurrants, this would make a good introduction.
Blackcurrant Cheesecake
Copyright © Taiwanray - Creative Commons License
Frank Cook Talks about the Blackcurrant
Internationally famous herbalist and wild plant expert Frank Cook talks about the benefits of eating and growing blackcurrants.
Getting Hold of Blackcurrants in the USA
It seems that it is either impossible or extremely difficult to buy fresh blackcurrants in the USA. Apparently there are dried 'black currants' on sale in stores but these are not in fact blackcurrant, ie ribes nigrum, they are dried grapes and don't offer the same nutritional benefits.
It seems that the only way to get hold of fresh blackcurrants is to grow them yourself. Luckily they are not hard to grow and don't need a huge amount of space.
They grow in a temperate climate, they prefer a sunny spot with a moist, but not wet, soil. Before planting, you should dig in plenty of well rotted manure or compost.
If you only want enough for a small family, then two or three blackcurrant bushes should be enough and they should be planted about 3 feet apart. The new bush should be planted an inch or two deeper than it was when you bought it. Cut canes back to about 12 inches above the ground and water in. Do not expect too much fruit in the first year. They need to be well established first.
Blackcurrants produce fruit on canes grown the previous year so you should prune back the older canes to keep air flowing through the bush. This cuts down on the risk or disease and pests. Pruning should be done when the bush is dormant so early or late winter.
Ribena Blackcurrant Drink 600ml (Pack of 2)
Amazon Price: $11.99 (as of 12/23/2009)
Ribena has been a terrifically popular drink with generations of British children. It has a real blackcurrant flavour and you only need a very small amount topped up with water to make a lovely fruity drink.
For me, Ribena is a real taste of my childhood and, amazingly, it's still popular here in the UK.
Blackcurrant Crumble Recipe
Blackcurrant Crumble
Copyright © AlixanaEuphoria Creative Commons License
Ingredients
Crumble Mixture
2 cups (8oz) all purpose (plain) flour
4oz butter
1/2 cup (4oz) sugar
Fruit
Approx 12 to 16oz blackcurrants
1/2 cup (4oz) sugar
1/4 cup water
Method
1. Remove any stalks or blossom ends from blackcurrants, wash and put in a pan with water and sugar. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and put in a greased ovenproof dish.
2. Sieve the flour into a mixing bowl and cut the butter into cubes and add to flour.
3. Rub the butter into the flour until the mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar.
4. Sprinkle the crumble mixture evenly over the fruit.
5. Bake in a preheated oven at 400 deg F, 200 deg C or gas mark 6 for about 30 minutes until crumble is golden brown.
6. Serve hot with custard or cream.
Superfoods
Amazon Price: $18.25 (as of 12/23/2009)
The perfect one-stop resource for anyone who wants to eat well and live well, this book is both a comprehensive guide to healing foods and a stunning collection of mouthwatering recipes. This updated and expanded edition of the classic Superfoods takes the reader on a culinary tour of the most nutritious foods on the planet, and offers advice on the healthiest foods to eat.
A leading authority on complementary health, Michael Van Straten is a practicing acupuncturist and a nutrition consultant, a well as the author of more than 20 health titles, including DK's best-selling classics Superfoods and Superfast Foods, and the phenomenally successful Foods that Harm, Food that Heal, for which he was a consulting editor.
Fizzy Blackcurrant Sorbet
Leading experimental chef, Heston Blumenthal shows us how to make a fizzy blackcurrant sorbet.
Nana Ruth's Blackcurrant Jam and Scones
Watch English Nana Ruth making blackcurrant jam and scones. If you aren't used to British measures, you will need to use a conversion table to change them to your own measures like cups or grams.
The blackcurrant harvest on the Queen's Sandringham Estate
Sandringham in Norfolk is owned by Queen Elizabeth II. Even so, it still has to pay its way and here we can see the blackcurrant crop being harvested. It is sold to the company that makes Ribena (see above). The man who is interviewed is talking with a genuine Norfolk accent.
More about Fruit
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Best of Summer Fruit on Twitter
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Summer is my favourite season for fruit. I love nearly all of it. Raspberries are the best, in my opinion, but then there are strawberries, peaches, apricots, cherries, different varieties of melon, blueberries, blackcurrants and all the rest. The gr...
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Raspberries - My Favorite Fruit
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Although I love most summer fruit - strawberries, blackcurrants, blackberries, cherries and the rest, my absolute favorite are raspberries. I will eat them fresh off the bush: - one in my mouth, one in the basket; one, two in my mouth, two in the bas...
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Recipes for Bananas
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I eat a banana almost every day of my life. I either have it cut up with my breakfast cereal or as part of my lunch. Occasionally, I use them in one of my favourite recipes for bananas. As children, we were often given bananas, sometimes cut up and...
An international organization that delivers emergency aid and to people suffering from natural disasters or man-made crises.
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Do you like Blackcurrants?
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Reply
- SaraMu SaraMu Jul 23, 2009 @ 9:45 am
- I'm taking a black currant supplement because I was told it would help with some of my skin discoloration. Apparently, black current helps reduce inflammation. While I've yet to actually taste the fruit, the supplement is great so far.
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Reply
- LizMac60 LizMac60 Jun 26, 2009 @ 2:06 pm
- Used to have a garden and grow these and make blackcurrant jelly.
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Reply
- Laniann Laniann Jun 13, 2009 @ 9:04 am
- Congratulations on number 100! I like Blackcurrant Jam and Scones. 5*s
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Reply
- CleanerLife CleanerLife Jun 12, 2009 @ 6:35 pm
- They look great, but they still may be banned in my area - I'll have to look into it more.
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Reply
- Joan4 Joan4 Jun 12, 2009 @ 5:31 am
- Beautiful 100th lens! I know nothing at all about blackcurrants, so you are educating me, too! 100 --- a fantastic accomplishment! Blessed by a joyful angel who is celebrating with you!
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Reply
- JustBon-Crochet-Designs JustBon-Crochet-Designs Jun 12, 2009 @ 2:33 am
- I only wish we could get blackcurrants here. My British husband loves them and he would really enjoy your crumble recipe. Congrats on reaching #100 :) 5*s.
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Reply
- drs2biz drs2biz Jun 11, 2009 @ 7:04 pm
- Congratulations on this landmark lens. It is full of great information about a delicious fruit. 5 *s and a favourite!
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Reply
- lakeerieartists lakeerieartists Jun 11, 2009 @ 3:03 pm
- This is a terrific lens about a fruit I am just beginning to learn about. I have never had fresh currants. I do like the dried version in bakery. Blessed. Congratulations on 100 lenses.
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Reply
- oneskms oneskms Jun 11, 2009 @ 12:38 pm
- Congratulations on your century, and a great lens to mark it...
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Reply
- aj2008 aj2008 Jun 11, 2009 @ 10:27 am
- Carol, I am absolutely thrilled that you have made 100 lenses. I am yet to visit them all but every one that I have seen has been a pleasure to visit. Not only for the quality content but also the great visuals and layouts.
As for blackcurrants, my fav way of eating them is to gently cook until soft, with sugar of course, allow the mix to cool and then spooned over a panacotta, with raspberries. Yummy!
But it's not raspberries to you, but SquidAngel blessings!
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About Me
Lensmaster Stazjia has been a member since September 26 2006, has rated 1,422 lenses, favorited 860, and has created 129 lenses from scratch. Carol Fisher donates their royalties to Dolphin Communication Project. This member's top-ranked page is "Classic Funny Poems for Kids". See all my lenses
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