Blackcurrants, sometimes spelled black currants are a type of berry, less known in America but extremely popular in Europe. Summer fruits, blackcurrants are flavorful berries that pack a wealth of nutrients and provide many health benefits.
Law-abiding fruit
It’s not every day that law prevents harvest of fruits, but until 2003 blackcurrants farming was prohibited in several states. The fruit had been popular with the Americans, albeit not the most common, for many years. However, U.S. regulations from 1911 banned the berry from being harvested on account of black currant bushes carrying the blister rust disease that normally affects white pines.
Forests were being depleted to a large extent at that time that America started importing white pine seedlings from Europe, which were infected with the disease. It had apparently been demonstrated that the infection past from white pines onto black currant bushes which helped spread the fungus, thus determining the ban.
It was not until the 1960s that new regulations overturned the ban, however, only in certain states. Cultivation of black currants is still not allowed in many regions across America.
About black currants
Most popular blackcurrants are deep purple colored or black as per the name. But sub-cultivars include red currants, white, green and pink varieties.
There is some confusion in the States in regards to this berry which has been given so many names including Zante currants. Many people believe that blackcurrants and Zante currants are one and the same when in fact they are entirely different fruits.
Zante currants are now identified as Greek raisins or dried Greek grapes, belonging to the Vitis genus in the vining botanical family, whereas blackcurrants belong to the genus Ribes in the Grossulariaceae family of flowering plants, thus two different botanical families.
The black currant presents amazing health benefits and is a fruit of incredibly intense flavor.
Black currants health benefits
Blackcurrants overthrow oranges at vitamin C content, containing four times more of the vitamin calculated per the same amount of fruit. Furthermore, the first are richest in polyphenols, specifically anthocyanins compared to any other fruit. Polyphenols are a type of antioxidants that fight against heart diseases, brain conditions, and ageing.
Black currants nutritional information per 100 grams serving
Calories: 63.0
Protein: 1.4 g 3% DV
Carbohydrates: 15.4 g 5% DV
Total Fat: 0.4 g 1% DV
Water: 81.9 g
Vitamins
Vitamin A: 230 IU
Vitamin C: 181 mg
Vitamin E: 1.0 mg
Thiamin: 0.1 mg
Riboflavin: 0.1 mg
Niacin: 0.3 mg
Vitamin B6: 0.1 mg
Pantothenic acid: 0.4 mg
Minerals
Calcium: 55.0 mg
Iron: 1.5 mg
Magnesium: 24.0 mg
Phosphorus: 59.0 mg
Potassium: 322 mg
Sodium: 2.0 mg
Zinc: 0.3 mg
Copper: 0.1 mg
Manganese: 0.3 mg
The most important nutrients in blackcurrants are the anthocyanins plus other antioxidants, the vitamin C, the acid called gamma-linoleic and the polyphenolic substances, which are found in the highest concentration compared to any of the other compounds in the fruit.
These are thus the primary nutrients in blackcurrants and the nutrients that provide health benefits such as strong immune system, good eye health, reduced risk of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, gut health, kidney health and healthy skin.
Very important and relevant for people who practice sports regularly is that blackcurrants and blackcurrant supplements were shown in studies to support more difficult training for longer periods of time. Blackcurrants boost the immune system and help ease muscle pain and soreness, stiffness and damage of the joints. It is thus a great fruit to consume for fighting inflammation in the body.
Tart berries, blackcurrants are very versatile and can be cooked into jams and syrups perfect for breakfast foods or as ice cream topping.