Natural Living Cuisine

Blackberries

April 22nd, 2008 | by Ingrid

“O, blackberry tart, with berries as big as your thumb, purple and black, and thick with juice, and a crust to endear them that will go to cream in your mouth, and both passing down with such a taste that will make you close your eyes and wish you might live forever in the wideness of that rich moment.” - Richard Llewellyn, Welsh novelist

There is something irresistible about ripe plump juicy berries and the bramble fruit, blackberry, is no exception. Blackberries share many of the health characteristics and antioxidant richness of other berries, like blueberries. They are loaded with vitamin C, contain vitamin E, fiber and even calcium.

Blackberries are relatives of the rose and the soft, juicy fruit grow on thorny bushes or trailing vines and as I have discovered come in many varieties. Here is a list of 22 different varieties and the plant characteristic [erect or trailing, thorny or thornless], and this isn’t even a complete list.

Apache - Thornless, Erect vine
Arapaho - Thornless, Erect vine
Black Buttee - Thorny, Trailing vine
Brazos - Thorny, Erect vine
Brison - Thorny, Erect vine
Cherokee - Thorny, Erect vine
Chester - Thornless, Trailing
Cheyenne - Thorny, Erect
Chickasaw – Thorny, Erect
Choctaw – Thorny, Erect
Dirksen – Thornless, Semi-Trailing
Hull – Thornless, Semi-Trailing
Illini Hardy – Thorny, Erect
Kiowa – Thorny, Erect
Navaho – Thornless, Semi-Erect
Ouachita – Thornless, Trailing and Semi-Erect
Prime-Jan – Thorny, Erect
Prime-Jim – Thorny, Erect
Rosborough – Thorny, Erect
Shawnee – Thorny, Erect
Triple Crown – Thornless, Trailing and Semi-Erect
Womack – Thorny, Erect

TIPS FOR PURCHASING :: STORAGE :: PREPARATION

It is a good idea to carefully check the berries in and at the bottom of the container or basket before purchasing to ensure that none are crushed or moldy. Handle these berries gently as any that are damaged or crushed quickly loss precious vitamins. Look for plump, well-rounded, firm dark purplish-black berries and make sure they are dry, not leaking juice.

Berries have a short shelf life and once you arrive home remove any that are overripe and use them for immediate consumption. Store remaining berries in a covered container, refrigerate, and use within a day or two. Avoid washing them before storing because moisture can collect between the drupelets and cause unwanted mold.

Blackberries do freeze well. Wash and dry only if necessary and place the berries on a flat surface, like a cutting board of a baking sheet, in a single layer, and place in the freeze until they are frozen. Transfer to an airtight freezer storage container, label and date. They should keep well up to 6 months.

When preparing for serving, gently rinse, drain and pat the berries day, if necessary.

Here is one great recipe using blackberries:

Strawberry Panna Cotta with Blackberry [The Daily Raw Cafe]