What Is A Currant Bush?

Currant bushes (Ribes) are thornless understory shrubs, growing in USDA hardiness zones 3-8. They can grow 3-6 feet wide and tall, and can range in color from red, white, pink, or black. There is even a clove currant (Ribes odoratum), which is very fragrant.

What does a currant taste like?

Currants have a sweet and sour berry flavor. All varieties have a bright acid kick to balance out their sweetness, and a fair amount of tannins that can make your mouth pucker.

Why are currants illegal to grow in the US?

In 1911 it was made illegal to grow currants in the United States. They were banned by the US Department of Agriculture because they carried the white pine blister rust disease. This fungus threatened to wipe out the pines in the US, so all Ribes were banned to protect the logging industry at the time.

Can you eat currant?

While they are sour, they tend to be less sour than gooseberries so they can be eaten raw: sprinkle them on your morning yogurt or just eat them by the handful. But they do get deliciously sweet and juicy when cooked, too. De-stem and fold them into muffin batter in place of other berries or use them to make jam.

Can you eat red currants raw?

Find out more about redcurrants, including how to select, store, prepare and cook them. These shiny little berries grow low on bushes, hanging from the branches like rows of miniature gems. Their flavour is a little tart but they’re still sweet enough to be eaten raw, so long as they’re sprinkled with plenty of sugar.

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.

What are currants good for?

Currants are high in vitamin C, which supports healthy immune function. They also contain iron, which helps prevent anemia; calcium, which supports strong and healthy bones; and phosphorus, which aids in muscle contraction.

Are red currants poisonous?

Unripe berries or a large number of ripe berries are mildly poisonous and can cause vomiting and diarrhoea.

Is it legal to grow currants?

In 1911, a federal ban made it illegal to grow all Ribes, including currants and gooseberries, because these plants served as an intermediary host of white pine blister rust.

Do currants taste like cranberries?

Do currants taste like cranberries? Red currants are bracingly tart and a bit sweet, like a sugar-kissed cranberry. They’re consumed in their cooked form more often than fresh. Both red and black also lend themselves well to savory dishes, as their sweet-tart flavor provides a pleasant contrast.

Are currants healthier than 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.

Can dogs eat currants?

Overview. Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants are all potentially poisonous to dogs. If eaten they can cause gut problems and in serious cases, kidney failure.

Do you cut back currant bushes?

Pruning established blackcurrant bushes
Prune sprawling branches laden with fruit for easy picking, cutting back to strong upright growth, but delay the main pruning until winter. Cut out a quarter to a third of the branches each year, aiming to remove old unproductive wood, weak growth and low-lying branches.

Where do currants grow best?

Currants grow well in sun or partial shade and appreciate afternoon shade in warm climates. Currant shrubs prefer the cool conditions in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 5. Plants may drop their leaves when temperatures exceed 85 degrees F.

How long do red currant bushes last?

As long as the soil is reasonably good quality and not alkaline, they will usually do well. Once planted, redcurrant plants will remain productive for almost 20 years. Even if you don’t want to eat the fruit, redcurrants are highly ornamental and a great way of attracting birds to your garden.

Are currants A Superfood?

Since black currants are so rich in vitamin C they can effectively help the body metabolize protein and form collagen resulting in healthy skin and slow down the effects of aging. They are also high in antioxidants and anthocyanins which are an essential aid in maintaining a healthy immune system.

How do you know when a currant is ripe?

Fully ripe currants possess the characteristic color of the variety (red, white, or black), are slightly soft and juicy. For jellies and jams, harvest currants before the berries are fully ripe. Fruit harvested for jellies and jams should be well colored, but still firm.

Are red currants A Superfood?

Currants contain powerful antioxidants which promote health and wellness within the body. Scientists are particularly interested in anthocyanin, an antioxidant that is found in high concentrations in currants.

Why are black currants illegal?

The nutrient-rich berries were banned in 1911 because they were thought to produce a fungus that could damage pine trees. As new disease-resistant berries were produced and new ways to prevent the fungus from damaging timber were developed, some states started to lift the ban in 2003.

Are currants good for you?

Currants are excellent source of minerals, such as zinc, magnesium, iron and especially potassium. The latter is very important in several functions in mammals but especially in the sodium/potassium equilibrium in body and depression of high blood pressure.

Are raisins and currants the same thing?

Raisins, sultanas and currants are all types of dried grapes. Raisins and sultanas are soft, sweet and juicy, while currants have an intense, sweet and tangy taste. Raisins are typically the largest of the three.