Blackcurrant: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article

All Topics

Blackcurrant

	Email		Print
	Bookmark		Link

	Blackcurrant
	Home Discussion Definition
	Topics Blackcurrant Topic Home The Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) is a species of RibesRibes *Ribes* is a genus of about 150 species of flowering plants, usually treated as the only genus in the family Grossulari... berryBerry In botany, the berry is the most common type of simple fleshy fruit; a fruit in which the entire ovary wall ripens into an e... native to central and northern EuropeEurope Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth.... and northern AsiaAsia Asia is the largest and most populous continent or region, depending on the definition.... . It is also known as French "cassis". It is a small shrubShrub A shrub or bush is a horticultural rather than strictly botanical category of woody plant, distinguished from a tree b... growing to 1–2 m tall. The leavesLeaf In botany, a leaf is an above-ground plant organ specialized for photosynthesis.... are alternate, simple, 3-5 cm long and broad, and palmately lobed with five lobes, with a serrated margin. The flowerFlower A flower,rflorem<flos), also known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found i... s are 4–6 mm diameter, with five reddish-green to brownish petals; they are produced in racemeRaceme A raceme is a type of inflorescence that is unbranched and indeterminate and bears pedicellate flowers — flowers h... s 5–10 cm long. When not in fruit, the plant looks similar to the redcurrantFacts About Redcurrant The Redcurrant is a member of the genus Ribes in the gooseberry family Grossulariaceae, native to parts of western Europ... shrub, distinguished by a strong fragrance from leaves and stems. The fruitFruit The term fruit has different meanings depending on context.... is an edible berryBerry In botany, the berry is the most common type of simple fleshy fruit; a fruit in which the entire ovary wall ripens into an e... 1 cm diameter, very dark purple in color, almost black, with a glossy skin and a persistent calyx at the apex, and containing several seedSeed Overview A seed is the ripened ovule of gymnosperm or angiosperm plants.... s dense in nutrients. Plants from Asia are sometimes distinguished as a separate variety Ribes nigrum var. sibiricum, or even as a distinct species Ribes cyathiforme. History During World War IIWorld War II World War II, or the Second World War, was a worldwide conflict fought between the Allied Powers and the Axis Powers ,... most fruits rich in vitamin C, such as oranges, became almost impossible to obtain in the United Kingdom. Since blackcurrant berries are a rich source of vitamin CVitamin C Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient and vitamin essential for life and for maintaining optimal health.... and blackcurrant plants are suitable for growing in the UK climate, blackcurrant cultivation was encouraged by the British government. Soon, the yield of the nation's crop increased significantly. From 1942 on almost the entire British blackcurrant crop was made into blackcurrant syrup (or cordial) and distributed to the nation's children free, giving rise to the lasting popularity of blackcurrant flavourings in Britain. Blackcurrants were once popular in the United StatesUnited States The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., and America, is... as well, but they became extremely rare in the 20th century after currant farming was banned in the early 1900s. The ban was enacted upon the "discovery" that blackcurrants facilitated the tree disease, white pine blister rust, once thought a threat to the U.S. lumber industry. The federal ban on growing currants was shifted to individual States' jurisdiction in 1966 and mainly lifted in 2003, allowing currant cultivation to make a comeback in several states including VermontVermont Overview Vermont is a state in the New England region of the United States, located in the northeastern part of the country.... , New YorkNew York New York is a state in the northeastern United States.... , ConnecticutConnecticut Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the United States, located in the northeastern part of the country.... and OregonOregon Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.... . However, several statewide bans still exist including MaineMaine Maine is a U.S. state in the New England region of the northeastern United States.... , MassachusettsMassachusetts The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States.... and New HampshireNew Hampshire The State of New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States.... .. Since the federal ban ceased currant production anywhere in the U.S., the fruit is not well-known and has yet to reach the popularity that it had in the U.S. in the 19th century or that it currently has in EuropeEurope Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth.... . Since black currants are a strong source of antioxidants and vitamins, awareness and popularity are once again growing, with a number of consumer products entering the market. Nutrients The fruit has an extraordinarily high vitamin CVitamin C Summary Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient and vitamin essential for life and for maintaining optimal health.... content (302% of the Daily Value, table). Blackcurrant also yields a good range of essential nutrients and seed oil rich in many nutrients, especially gamma-linolenic acidGamma-Linolenic acid gamma-Linolenic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid that exists primarily in plant fats.... (GLA), an essential fatty acidEssential fatty acid Essential fatty acids, or EFAs, are fatty acids that are required in the human diet.... . Culinary uses In RussiaRussia Russia , also the Russian Federation , is a country that stretches over a vast expanse of Eurasia.... , it is common to infuse slightly sweetened vodkaVodka Vodka is typically a colorless liquor, usually distilled from fermented grain but also from other raw materials .... with blackcurrant leaves, making a deep yellowish-green beverage with a sharp flavor and an astringent taste . Blackcurrant berries can also be used to flavor vodka. In the UK, blackcurrant cordial is often mixed with ciderCider Cider, known in the U.S. as hard cider, is an alcoholic drink made from crushed and then fermented apples.... to make a drink called Cider & Black. This drink can be ordered at most pubs. It is also believed that adding a small amount of blackcurrant to GuinnessGuinness Guinness is a dry stout that originated in Arthur Guinness's St.... will bring out a sweeter taste in the beer, making it a better beverage in some beer-drinkers' opinions. Blackcurrants have a sweet and sharp tasteTaste Taste is one of the traditional five senses and refers to the ability to detect of flavor of foodstuffs.... . They are made into jelly, jamJam Overview Jam is a type of sweet spread or condiment made with certain fruits or vegetables, sugar, and sometimes pectin.... , juiceJuice Juice is a fluid naturally contained in animal or plant tissue.... , ice creamIce cream Ice cream is a frozen dessert made from dairy products such as cream , combined with flavorings and sweeteners such as suga... , and liqueurLiqueur A liqueur is a sweet alcoholic beverage, often flavoured with fruits, herbs, spices, flowers, seeds, roots, plants, barks, a... /cordialCordial A cordial is an extremely sweet non-alcoholic fruit flavoured drink concentrate that is diluted with water to taste.... (see RibenaRibena Ribena is a brand of uncarbonated soft drink made by GlaxoSmithKline in the United Kingdom.... ). In the UKUnited Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country and sovereign state that lies off the northwest coast... , Europe and Commonwealth countries, some types of confectioneryConfectionery The term confectionery refers to food items that are rich in sugar.... include a blackcurrant flavor, and in Belgium and the Netherlands, cassis is a popular currant soft drink. In the United States, other than Ribena, a nationally available blackcurrant beverage is called CurrantC. Blackcurrant syrup mixed with white wine is called Kir or Kir Royale when mixed with Champagne. Cooking Other than being juiced and used in jellies, syrups, and cordials, blackcurrants are used in cooking because their astringent nature brings out flavor in many sauces, meat dishes and desserts. It was once thought that currants needed to be "topped and tailed" (the stalk and flower-remnants removed) before cooking. However, this is not the case as these parts are easily assimilated during the cooking process. If one prefers, the whole blackcurrant stem with fruit can be frozen, then shaken vigorously. The tops and tails are broken off and fruit can be separated easily. See also RedcurrantRedcurrant The Redcurrant is a member of the genus Ribes in the gooseberry family Grossulariaceae, native to parts of western Europ... Cecidophyopsis ribis – the blackcurrant gall mite RibenaRibena Ribena is a brand of uncarbonated soft drink made by GlaxoSmithKline in the United Kingdom.... External links - Extensive information about black currants : A short essay making a case that blackcurrants are real currants while "Zante currants" (which are known simply as "currants" in the U.S. and some other parts of the world) are not. It shows no awareness of the theory that blackcurrants and redcurrants took their English name from Zante currants, which seem be the same fruits that were called "raysons of coraunce" (with various spellings) in Middle English, from Old French "raisins de Corauntz". It also mistakenly gives the confusion a recent date.