Black currant health benefits and therapeutic value

Black currant, with scientific name Ribes nigrum, is a bushy fruit shrub 3 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 meters) tall. Its fruit gifts us with many health benefits and therapeutic value.

Native to Europe and Asia, it belongs to the Rosaceae family. Black currant has been cultivated since the end of the XVI^th century for its culinary appeal in jam, desserts and pastries.

• Read also: how to grow black currant

Health benefits of black currant

Black currant has long been famous for its many health benefits and  impact on health.

Although the black currant berry only weighs as much as a feather, it has incredible vitamin C levels.

• Black currant leaves have diuretic and anti-rheumatism properties. They induce elimination of uric acid and purine and are thus recommended as maintenance medicine for arthritis and arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
• It also seems that black currant leaves activate cortisol production by the adrenal glands, which stimulates activity in the sympathetic nervous system. They hence contribute to lowering the impact of stress.
• Do you suffer from canker sores or sore throat? Gargling black currant will work a miracle.
• Black currant juice exerts wide-ranging invigorating effects during the infectious process and reinforces resistance to infections.

How to use Black currant for health

Ingestion

Juice, syrup, black currant jelly – prepared from the berries. Of course, these work as remedies but make for delightful sweets, too. Consume when wanting to benefits from the therapeutic properties of black currant.

Black currant wine – macerate 1 lbs (500 g) berries for 3 days in 1 quart (1 liter) red wine. Sieve and add sweetener (sugar syrup). Drink one glass before each meal. Against lymphatism, nutrition-related diseases and age-related disorders.

Black currant cream – in a bottle, pile alternate layers of fruit and powdered sugar (no added water). Close the cap and macerate for several months, adding more regularly. After that, filter, you’ll have produced a deliciously flavored liquor!

Black currant infusion – ⅔ oz (50 g) black currant leaves for 1 quart (1 liter) of water. Steep for 10 minutes and ingest 3 mugs a day between meals. Against rheumatism. To be effective, this course must last 6 months.

External use

Against insect bites of the likes of wasps and bumblebees, crumple black currant leaves and dab the juice on the painful area. Pain will quickly stop and the swelling will fade away.

Growing black currant for its health benefits

Black currant prospers in full sun exposure or lightly shaded areas. It requires humus-rich, cool soil but not wet. More than anything, black currant execrates sandy soil.

Tip

If the season is rainy and wet, it’s important to treat preventively against powdery mildew (a microscopic parasite fungus).

What about potted black currant?

In a pot, black currant does perfectly well in containers at least 12 inches (30 cm) across.

Watch out for small bugs!

Black currant has a lot to fight against, with aphids and black currant gall mite (a mite that makes buds swell). Also keep a lookout for bacterial spots on leaves.

• Read also: how to grow black currant

Cooking black currant for its health benefits

With black currant, one can prepare succulent jams and also coulis, syrups and liquor. It has antioxidant properties.

Nutritional content of black currant

73 kcal / 3.5 oz (100 g). Black currant leaves contain flavonoid compounds (an important source of antioxidants), tannin compounds and essential oil.

Its fruits produce sugar, pectin (ideal for jam), anthocyanosides (natural dye from the leaves, petals and fruits) and a lot of vitamin C

– about 200 mg for 3.5 oz (100 g). Black currant vitamin C is very stable and keeps for a surprisingly long time (unlike vitamin C from citrus and other plants).

– Lastly, black currant has a lot of vitamin B9 and beta-carotene and provides potassium and manganese.

Savory ideas

Black currant cream, black currant cake, black currant jam, black currant syrup or macaroons… Black currant is the king of sweet recipes! But feel free also to pair it with main courses, for example duck magret, you’ll be surprised at the fragrance it releases.

Blandine Merlin