Blackberries are small and have a dark color, have a juicy texture and has an acidic and sweet taste. Rebus species belongs to the Rosaceae family and it is made up of small fruitlets that give its structure the bumpy texture. It starts out green changes to red, and finally turns purple-black when ripe. Containing vitamin C & K, manganese and low GI, blackberries also contain anthocyanin, ellagic acids. Blackberries are native to temperate regions and are borne on spiny or spineless thorny bushes classified as erect, trailing or semi-erect types. They can be consumed fresh, baked, in jams and in beverages and they’ve been traditionally used as remedies for digestive problems and for sore throat. They are best eaten fresh but can be kept in the refrigerator or even frozen for use later if harvested during late spring to summer.
Origen of blackberries:
Blackberries are thought to have existed for a lot more years and there are probably the early indication that the berries belong to people’s diet. Blackberries grow wild in Europe, Asia, North and South America and have been utilized by man, both as food and medicine. Ancient civilizations cultivated them for both, sweetness and tartness as well as certain curative properties; the fruit, leaves and root of the plants have been included in effective traditional remedies that cure stomach ailments, inflammation, and infections. Blackberry cultivation gradually extended worldwide, and controlled breeding experience to the creation of the myriad use of varieties for various climates and growing environments. They have cultivated different varieties and are very hardy that they have become a popular fruit in many temperate countries.
Varieties of blackberries:
Blackberries and hybrids of this fruit are differentiated based on a sort of variation that will enable users get different types of blackberries depending with the climate, atmospheric conditions and even in cooking. Some examples are thorn less variety of Navaho, Apache and Triple Crown which are preferred for their convenient picking and that the fruits which are big and succulent. Tougher to harvest such Kiowa and cherokee, but typically they yield more and are popular due to their delicious sharp taste. However, there are also the crossbreed varieties which are a mix of blackberries with other berries, Loganberry and Boysenberry included have their tastes influenced by a mixture of raspberry. Everbearing or primocane varieties include the Prime-Ark Freedom and the Prime-Ark 45, and they make a garden crop as they can produce for two years in a year. Actually, blackberries differ in their response to climatic conditions while Chester prefers cooler climate conditions, Ouachita and Hatchite prefer warm climate conditions. For eating fresh, baking or for reserve, these diverse blackberry cultivars guarantee that each is well suited to each individual preference and site conditions.
Characteristics of blackberries:
Blackberries are oval-shaped, black and glossy berries that are small and contain highly nutritious values. Pulpy in texture, close in structure to grapes, these fruits are further comprised of numerous tiny drupelets, each of which contain a small seed that is edible. Mature blackberries are sweet – tart but the sourness increases as the fruit ripens. In terms of nutrients they provide vitamin C, K, and A, dietary fiber, manganese, and magnesium; being low calorie dense food. Blackberries contain anthocyanins, flavonoids and their benefits include boosting of the immunity, digestion and acts as an anti inflammatory. They are found on blackberry or raspberry thorny bushes or thorn less and require full sun, well-drained soil and are ready for picking midsummer to early fall. A fruit with a great number of uses, blackberries are eaten raw, utilized in sweet meals and marmalades, pies or used as ingredients of a smoothie. Herbaceous they have also been used as remedies for ailments like sore throats, digestive problems and are generally very safe and tasty to ingest.
Nutrition value of blackberries:
Blackberries are enzyme-rich, brilliant as an energy source and are ideal for any health conscious person as they are packed with good nutrients. They also contain very little fats, adequate proportion of essential vitamins and minerals to make them fit in any diet. They contain especially high amount of Vitamin C that is helpful for the immune system and Vitamin K that is aids bone and blood performance. The other nutrients found in blackberries are the vitamins and most particularly vitamin A that helps in vision and the skin. In addition to the vitamins, they contain the following minerals: the magnesia which helps in effecting the breakdown of nutrients in the body and the formation of bones and magnesium which has functions in muscles and nerves in the body. Both of these two berries are good source of dietary fiber; role of fiber in digestion and regulation of blood sugar level is well documented. Blackberries are also packed with Vitamin C besides having antioxidants, including anthocyanins, flavonoids that go a long way in addressing Oxidative stress and inflammation hence improving heart health and wellbeing.
Health benefits of blackberries:
Blackberries have a lot of health benefits hence the inclusion of these fruits in a healthy diet. High in various anthocyanins and flavonoids, these berries aid in fighting oxidization thus decreasing inflammation levels and the likelihood of acquiring chronic diseases including but not limited to cardiovascular diseases and particular forms of cancers. They have high vitamin C, and help in enhancing immune system, improved collagen synthesis hence giving the skin the ability to heal faster. Fiber content in blackberries is useful for digestion discharge, conserved gut health, and blood glucose regulation thus good for diabetic patients. They also have 250 micrograms of Vitamin K, which is important in the bone formation and as an aid to clotting of blood, and manganese, which is helpful in metabolism and bone formation. Also, the presence of Vitamin A in the food aids in vision, skin and the immune system body organs. This makes blackberries a good choice for anyone particular on the glycemic level for those who wish to control their energy levels and their weights
Uses of blackberries:
Blackberries actually are very useful fruits for their culinary and medicinal properties. They can be eaten when they are fully ripe and used for preparing healthy snacks or incorporated in salads or used for making a healthy chewable smoothie. Among the preparations, blackberries are utilized in pies, tarts, muffins, and some kinds of cobblers; moreover, due to it is sweetness, it may be used in jams, jellies, syrups, and sauces. and other people except using blackberries in the kitchen, for example, it was possible to cure sore throat by chewing blackberries, to treat digestion problems and this blackberries itself can improve the overall health because they are very rich in antioxidant and nutrients. Its vivid color and taste make them used as garnishes on deserts, as well as in cocktails and other alcoholic drinks. Savory, in a fruit salad, canned for several months in advance, or eaten immediately; the blackberries of today are sweet, succulent, and valuable for the constitution of the human body.
Drinks of blackberries:
Blackberries are wonderfully diverse, and they can be used in many ways in cooking and medicine. They can be eaten raw, as a healthful snack, incorporated into salads or even included in a meals’ ready-made accompaniment through blending into a smoothie. In baking, blackberries are used in pies, tarts, muffins and cobblers mainly because of their sourness but when ripe, they are properly sweet for jams, jellies, syrups and sauces. Blackberries can also be frozen for future or kept for a long period, or dried for use as an ingredient in granola, trail mixes, or teas. Apart from kitchen, blackberries possess traditional healing properties as it is used to cure sore throat, digestive disorders and for general body boosting because of it high antioxidant and nutrient rich values. They are also valued for their bright colors and smoothly sour taste, and used as decorations in desert and drinks. Blackberries eat fresh in delicious meals, desserts, in a salad, or fruit salad, or when preserved for later, are always healthy and enjoyable.
Dessert of blackberries:
The blackberries are wonderful additions to a large variety of desserts and enhance with their succulent taste and deep purple color numerous preparations. They are used in those traditional products such as pies, cobbler, crisp, tart, where they blend well with buttery and sweet pastry base. Blackberries can be used to prepare delicious sauces and compotes that will go nicely in combination with cheesecake, panna cotta or ice cream desserts. They are also used in baking products like muffins, cakes and scones giving a surprise taste with every chew. Blackberries, however, can be incorporated in light meals such as yogurts and parfaits with granolas, or incorporated in sorbets and yogurts. Due to their attractive appearance, they are ideal to decorate cakes, pavlovas and trifles apart from being an addition to the taste. It is hard to imagine taste solutions with which they cannot be augmented and with which they cannot be combined whether baked, blended or fresh.