The blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum), also known as black currant or cassis, is a deciduous shrub in the family Grossulariaceae grown for its edible berries.
| Blackcurrant | |
|---|---|
| Family: | Grossulariaceae |
| Genus: | Ribes |
| Species: | R. nigrum |
| Binomial name |
What type of berry is a currant?
Currants, also called Zante currants or Black Corinth raisins, are dried berries that come from seedless Black Corinth grapes. These are not to be confused with black, red, or white currants, which are grape-like berries that come from shrubs and are not usually eaten dried.
What are fruits that are considered currants?
Currants, also known as “Zante currants,” are tiny, dried grapes. Despite their name, currants are actually made by drying a variety of small, seedless grapes called “Black Corinth” and “Carina.”
What are the different types of currants?
Currant varieties come in shades of red, black, and white. Red currants are high in pectin, making them ideal for jams and jellies. Black currants have five times the Vitamin C of oranges and make wonderful liqueurs. White currants are typically sweeter and less acidic than red currants and are best eaten fresh.
What kind of berry is black currant?
cassis berries
What are Black Currants Called in America? Though sometimes called “the forbidden fruit” due to their role in carrying fungus dangerous to pines, black currants are also known as cassis berries. Many people may have consumed black currant without knowing it in alcoholic drinks containing crème de cassis.
What is the best tasting currant berry?
White currants are the sweetest of the three currant colors – sweet, and tart with floral undertones. Although the fruits are the primary source of food from the plant, the leaves and tender, young shoots are also edible. White currant berries are slightly smaller than their red counterparts.
Are cranberries currants?
Summary. Currants are higher in protein, minerals, and vitamin C, while Cranberries are lower in net carbs and calories. Currants provide three times more vitamin C than Cranberries.
What are currants called in America?
The grapes were originally cultivated in the south of Greece and more specifically, the island of Zante, hence the name Zante currant, used in the United States. The name currant comes from the ancient city of Corinth. Other names for currants are Zante currants, Corinth raisins, or Corinthian raisins.
Can I use raisins instead of currants?
If you don’t have currants you can substitute equal amounts of: Use any other type of black or golden raisins. OR – Chopped soft prunes make a reasonable substitution. OR – Chopped black pitted dates which are flavorful and have lots of iron.
What is the best currant?
Many people consider ‘Rovada’ to be the best red currant cultivar. Plants are dependable, vigorous, late ripening, and very productive, bearing long-stemmed clusters of large red berries that are easy to pick.
What are dried currants called?
Dried currants, also called Zante currants, are tiny raisins made by drying a variety of seedless grape known as Black Corinth (often sold fresh as “Champagne grapes”).
Which is healthier currants or raisins?
Currants and raisins are very similar in nutritional value. They closely match in carbohydrate count, protein, fiber, sugar, potassium and vitamins C and K. A one-ounce serving of raisins has 95 calories compared to the 79 calories in the same size serving of currants. Both of these dried fruits contain no fat.
Is black currant like a blueberry?
Both blueberries and black currants are small, dark-colored berries that grow in dense clusters on the branches of their bushes. The similarities end there, however — the two types of plants are quite different in both their growth preferences and the flavor of their berries.
What does a currant berry look like?
Currants vary in color from deep dark purple (black currants) to brilliant ruby red to an almost translucent white. Dried black currants look a lot like Zante currants. They are smaller than the dried grapes and have a deep berry flavor.
Are blackcurrants good for diabetics?
Black currants have high levels of manganese, which is an important mineral for helping to control blood sugar level. Manganese may aid in proper insulin secretion and help level out blood sugar for people with type 2 diabetes.
Can you eat currants raw?
You can eat currants raw, but black currants, especially, are quite tart. Adding a bit of sugar or cooking the berries into jams, jellies, or sauces can help offset the tartness (but will also affect their nutritional profile). You can use currants in desserts instead of other berries.
Are currants good eating?
Currants are abundant in their health benefits. They are full of antioxidants and polyphenol compounds. Due to their genus, they are also considered better phenolic sources than grapes. Currants are rich in vitamins, the most significant one being Vitamin C.
Are gooseberries the same as currants?
Gooseberries and currants are very closely related, being members of the same genus Ribes, however, they do have a few major differences. Gooseberries tend to have significantly larger fruit than currants and they have thorns on their stems. They are green or dark red when fully ripe.
What fruit is closest to a currant?
Raisins (or dried grapes) have a sweet, tangy, and intense flavor similar to the taste of currants. Thus, raisins can be a close replacement for dried currants in sweet and savory dishes. Raisins are an excellent substitute for pastries, bread, and sweet dishes.
What is similar to currant?
6 Best Substitutes For Currants
- The best substitutes for currants are regular raisins, dried dates, dried prunes, dried cherries, cranberries, and jujube.
- Dates are a perfect natural sweetener just like honey.
- If you’d like to try out a unique substitute for currant jelly, try out the stewed prunes.
What can you replace currants with?
The best substitutes for dried currants are dried plums, dried dates, raisins, cranberries, jujube, dried blueberries, dried apricots, and dried cherries.