White currants are rarely specified in savoury cooking recipes compared with their red counterparts. Red currants are bracingly tart and a bit sweet, like a sugar-kissed cranberry. They’re mostly seedless, but particularly large ones may contain a few hard seeds. In some situations, currants and raisins can be used interchangeably in recipes. We can’t resist blackcurrant jam smothered onto hot buttered crumpets, peeking out from under clotted cream on a scone, serving as an adhesive between two Victoria sponges… we could go on. Primm Springs, Tennessee. Credit: Most climates are friendly to currants, which thrive under lower light conditions. If they're not raisins, I think it's time for me to try them! Impostors. These berries also lend themselves well to savory dishes, because the tart flavor makes a strong contrast. Currents are black, red, or white. Sign up for the Top Pick Of The Week to get a product review, recipe and cooking video by email or RSS. The Spruce Eats / Hilary Allison How to Use Currants Fresh currants can be used like blueberries, and somewhat like blackberries or raspberries, in tarts and pies, and other desserts, such as sorbets and puddings. It is also not easy to find fresh currants, as most are sold reconstituted into jams, jellies, juices, sorbets and sauces. Cooking with Currants Some currants can be eaten out of hand (especially if you are down with tart fruit), but they are most commonly turned into sauces, jams, jellies and desserts. The berries should be plump, glossy and a little bit firm when they are purchased, and they can be stored for as long as three days under refrigeration. In some places, the dried fruits sold at grocery stores as “currants” are actually dried Zante raisins from Greece. Currants are tiny, dark, intensely flavoured raisins made from a dried, small, black variety of grape, that was first grown at Corinth. Like other types of raisins, currants are a great source of soluble and insoluble fiber. Basically, anything you can do with raisins, you can do with currants. If you’re in the mood for something savory, currants will add a touch of sweetness and texture to your breads, salads, or holiday stuffings. Currants are just a smaller grape variety. Greg Quinn, a farmer in New York, helped overturn the ban in 2003 with the assistance of state lawmakers. Raisins are dried grapes. Some recipes suggest plumping the dried currants before use. Is this possible? Their wrinkles are fine to medium, but quite distinct. Native to Europe, currants are either black or red berries commonly known for their use in jellies and jams. You can do this by placing the currants in a small bowl covered with water or even sherry or brandy and allow to sit for at least 30 minutes. Tart and sweet, currants are a good source of vitamin C, high in fiber, and a good source of potassium, too. For this reason, many Americans confuse Zante raisins with currants. What are currants: the confusion explained by THE NIBBLE, Great Food Finds, a gourmet food webzine with thousands of product reviews and recipes including currants. Subscribe to our newsletter and learn something new every day. When buying fresh currants, look for deep rep color and just a hint of softness. A substitute would be another dried fruit. Definitely not blueberries. As currants come from Black Corinth grapes, golden raisins come from sultana grapes. Wikibuy Review: A Free Tool That Saves You Time and Money, 15 Creative Ways to Save Money That Actually Work. White currants are actually a red varietal. Story. Well, they’re not currants, weirdly, since they don’t grow in bushes. There are at least 100 species, natives of temperate climates of the Northern Hemisphere and of western South America. Good question. Currants, also called Zante currants or Black Corinth raisins, are dried berries that come from seedless Black Corinth grapes. “As early as 75 A.D., Pliny (the Elder) writes of a tiny Greek grape, thin-skinned, juicy, and sweet, and with bunches exceedingly small,” according to Raisin Production, a manual by the University of California. When using raisins or currants that have been stored in the refrigerator, take them out 30 minutes before use so that they can come up to room temperature. I would take some raisins and chop them up a bit, then measure out the amount that you need for the currants. currant from Food Network. For a sweet treat, we recommend stirring currants into scone dough instead of regular raisins. spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors. The currants we use as … Currants are tart and can vary in colour: there are white currants, red currants, and even black currants (known as cassis in French ). These are not to be confused with black, red, or white currants, which are grape-like berries that come from shrubs and are not usually eaten dried. They pair beautifully with other summer fruits (think blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and peaches), mint, hard cheeses (like cheddar) and meat, especially pork and game birds like duck. In savory cooking, stir dried currants into rice pilaf, or into stuffing for chicken, turkey, or game hens, to add texture and subtle sweetness. Currants simply don't taste cultivated. Both currants and raisins can be stored at room temperature if they are tightly wrapped. Black currants are little berries that grow on the blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) plant. MyRecipes.com is part of the Allrecipes Food Group. From chips and dip to one-bite apps, finger foods are the perfect way to kick off a party. 1. For an easy supper that you can depend on, we picked out some of our tried-and-true favorites that have gotten us through even the busiest of days. Quinn believed that currants could revitalize family farms in New York state by providing a source of income through a somewhat unusual berry. I also want to know what they are. Some people don't like the big raisin bite and currants are a great way around that, they are smaller by far. Raisins. Currants are also used to make well known liqueur Cassis. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Raisins and currants can be used in savory dishes as well as sweet treats. Raisins, sultanas, and Zante currants are all sweet dried fruits that stem from different varieties of vine-grown grapes, while currants really are a fresh bush-grown berry that is tart rather than sweet. Currant, shrub of the genus Ribes of the gooseberry family (Grossulariaceae), the piquant, juicy berries of which are used chiefly in jams and jellies. They are very small dried grapes that are about a quarter of the size of regular grapes. The Rocky Mountains in MyRecipes may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. The best time for currants is late spring through late summer. If currants are what you’re looking for, look for stuff labeled as ‘blackcurrants’. The leaves look right, the fruit grows the same, same color, same little bit of ex flower on the bottom of the berry as a currant has, except they're large and very sweet. Whether you're cooking for yourself or for a family, these easy dinners are sure to leave everyone satisfied and stress-free. What Are Currants and What Do You Do With Them? Native to the Northern Hemisphere, these plants have been cultivated throughout Europe and Asia for centuries. In the United States, ‘currants’ often refer to dried Corinth grapes, also known as Zante currants that are basically just tiny forms of raisins. Find out all about Currants : meaning, pronunciation, synonyms, antonyms, origin, difficulty, usage index and more. Anon41597 - Blackcurrants are not sweet until cooked. A small black, red or white berry eaten fresh or used to make jams, jellies and preserves. Currants, Dried Fruits, Raisins, Sultanas . © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. However, they are not tart like red currants, but rather quite sweet. Posted on October 8, 2016 by Hortalaska Berries | Leave a comment. The little fruits can be dried and eaten as a snack or used in stuffings or salads. I've always been told that currants were small raisins, and I can't stand raisins so I never tried currants. My personal favorite is a craisin. Currants are glossy red or black berries that grow on thornless upright shrubs. Maybe you have blueberries? These come in cherry flavor too. Dried currants are tiny, bluish brown/black raisins. That’s why they’re sometimes called “Zante currants.”. If you are making something that calls for currents, it's for the size probably. The definition of a currant is “a small dried fruit made from a seedless variety of grape, originally grown in the eastern Mediterranean region, now widely produced in California, and much used in cooking.”. Just this week I saw in my local organic grocery, a specialty cross between a strawberry and cherry. The plants also are used decoratively in some gardens. You’ve come to the right place. What can I use the berries for? Either can be used as an added ingredient to oatmeal, trail mix, granola or many types of baked goods. They grow in small, cylindrical clusters. Currants are high in vitamin C, phosphorus, calcium and iron. These days, currants are produced all over the world. If you're looking for a simple recipe to simplify your weeknight, you've come to the right place--easy dinners are our specialty. The first—resembling a tiny, dark raisin—is the seedless, dried Zante grape ( champagne grapes). This article examines the potential benefits of black currants, … What are Currants. No forks or spoons required, just easy-to-pick-up party foods, so you can clean up in no time. Currants are naturally dried like raisins, which gives them their dark color. In the U.S., when most people refer to currants, they are … Nutritional highlights include: Because of their tender skin and small size, currants are often used for cooking and baking. They are green on the inside. Among other things, consuming an adequate amount of manganese is necessary for proper nervous system function. We inherited about nine currant bushes on our allotment and they're fruit are just starting to ripen. Currant jelly is deliciously sweet and tart and found in a range of cuisines. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and Yeah, it’s a bit confusing. The white currant is actually an albino cultivar of the red currant but is marketed as a different fruit. They contain a great deal of copper, which is used by the body to synthesize collagen and to promote the absorption of iron. Currants are often used in freshly-baked scones , sprinkled over salads or stirred into a traditional hot cross bun recipe . Pronounced: KUR-uhnt. Popped in the mouth, they taste like summer itself. Mouths have been known to pucker while tasting a currant. You could make this summer berry jam with only blackcurrants (using 1.8kg and a splash of crème de cassis too), but teaming them with raspberries, redcurrants and strawberries works nicely. Unlike raisins, currants taste tart. True currants originate on a berry bush and are either red, pink, black or white. Better too hard than too soft. Danielle Wood/Getty Images, Credit: He also helped to breed varieties of currant that would be resistant to the parasitic white pine blister rust, demonstrating that these plants could be cultivated without threatening the U.S. timber industry. MyRecipes is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. In addition to being smaller than raisins, currants have a subtler and slightly more tart flavor. They’re consumed in their cooked form more often than fresh. It will be delicious on a hot biscuit. They taste like regular raisins, but since they’re small, they’re a bit more intense. Currants are substituted for raisins in this sweet yeast bun recipe.This recipe by Leah Eskin was originally published in the Chicago Tribune. The sweeter black currants are made into liqueurs, cordials, candies, jams, jellies and syrups and are most popular. Quinoa Salad with Pistachios and Currants. For prolonged storage like up to a year, store in the refrigerator in an airtight container. In the United States, commercial cultivation of currants was banned until 2003 because of concerns that they could harbor a disease that had the potential to devastate American timber stocks. It tastes very good. Currants are high in vitamin C, phosphorus, calcium and iron. The U.S. ban on currants was put in place in 1911 out of concerns about a plant disease called white pine blister rust, which uses currants as an alternate host. Roll them on the tongue, and time slows and clouds overhead move more lazily. Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the I didn't read the jar and thought I was getting blackberry jam. My great-grandfather raised them and sold the berries in market (both red and white currants) since before my mother was born and until he died in 1982. My grandma has always been obsessed with currants … Yum! The main producers of the Moscatel grapes are the United States, Turkey, Greece, and Australia. If I'm correct, currants are a kind of dried grape, or raisin. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. exciting challenge of being a wiseGEEK researcher and writer. Cooking with currants is easy and fun. This little known plugin reveals the answer. In some places, the dried fruits sold at grocery stores as “currants” are actually dried Zante raisins from Greece. Raisins (Image credit: Kelli Foster) I am fascinated by the material on currants as well as the wide variation in taste between black currants, red currants, ect. Only at Word Panda dictionary Currants, also called Zante currants or Black Corinth raisins, are dried berries that come from seedless Black Corinth grapes. The Best Dried Currants Recipes on Yummly | Spiced Dried Fruit Cake With Rum Butter Glaze, Miniature Muffins With Currants And Dill, Blueberry Cream Cheese Ghost Hand Pies When we are talking about dried fruits, raisins are dried, dark red, seedless grapes. Is Amazon actually giving you the best price? If you like Piña Coladas... you'll probably like this tropical spiked shake featuring currants, rum, and coconut sorbet. The word “currant” is derived from “Corinth,” a Greek city famous for its small, dark grapes. Learn about a little known plugin that tells you if you're getting the best price on Amazon. To be classified as a currant, the bush must be in the genus Ribes. Cooking with Currants and Raisins. They’re not true currants because they come from grapes that are about 1/4th size of regular grapes. Currants (including red currants) are closely related to the gooseberry family, and each currant has a distinct flavour. A true currant grows in a shrub form and is extremely hardy. There are plenty of varieties, but in the U.S., “raisin” typically refers to dark-colored dried large grape. Fresh Black Corinth berries are small, round, and reddish black. The berries are smaller than a blueberry. This is important for digestion, heart health, weight loss and management, and general wellbeing. Dried currants are used in many baked goods. Currants in Cooking. Ostrich - Currents are similar to raisins but hey are sweeter and don't have as strong a taste as raisins. Raisins are dried white Moscatel grapes. These plants also have a strong will to live and have been known to propagate themselves from cuttings. They are also not as juicy. There are two distinct fruits which are called currants: (1) the dried zante grape; like a raisin, it is used in baked goods and (2) a fresh tiny berry related to the gooseberry. I pitted a quart to put in my slow dryer. Dried currants are not related to the fresh berry also called a currant. Page 1 of 2: Hi everyone! It was believed that eradicating currants would help with the problem. Thomas J. When they are dried the result is a dark, dried fruit much like a currant, making it dense in texture and bursting with a sweet flavor. How to make a lattice pie crust. Amazon Doesn't Want You to Know About This Plugin. Exactly like a very large sweet currant. A cranberry raisin. I've seen these things that look like giant black currants. They are the garden's wild thing, the counterpoint to the more reserved blueberry or juicy-sweet raspberry, the free-spirited cousin of the gooseberry. White … There are two distinctly different fruits called currant. Ever wondered what, exactly, makes a currant a currant? just purchased a jar of currant jam. They are often served raw and provide a sweetly tart flavor. The raisins are much smaller and more flavorful than conventional raisins, and they are a popular addition to currant cake and other slightly savory dessert items. “It then dropped out of written history until the eleventh century, when trade of this type of raisin between the Greek producers and the Venetians were recorded.”, By the 17th-century, trade shifted toward a group of Greek islands, particularly Zakynthos (Zante). Currants - Food Reference, Culinary and cooking history, trivia, kitchen & cooking tips & facts, recipes, quotes, humor, poetry and culinary crosswords It's less common in the United States, but several substitutes can fill in. Currants are quite flavorful. Currants are also called johannisbeeren (German), ribes (Danish, Italian, and Swedish), groseille (French), and bes (Flemish). Everybody understands the stuggle of getting dinner on the table after a long day. As long as they are protected from a hard freeze with plenty of mulch around their roots, these plants will live to bear fruit year after year. Currants are also sold dried, but they’re not as readily available as sultanas and raisins. You can use the Zante currants … These berries are an exceptional source of vitamin C and polyphenols, and they grow around the world. I have what I think are black currants growing wild on my property. To the best of my knowledge the bushes still exist on the farm which was purchased and kept mostly the same since I was a child. They’re also considered a high-manganese food. The fresh, tart flavor is excellent in fresh fruit dishes and can be used to make jams and preserves. It is believed that the name “currant” is a corruption of Corinth and might have originated when the raisins were first imported into the U.S. during the 1920s. On its own, the name currant usually refers to fresh currant fruits; for example, black currants. These are not to be confused with black, red, or white currants, which are grape-like berries that come from shrubs and are not usually eaten dried. The ban in the US mentioned was news to me! Though they’re small, currants pack a healthy punch. Store in the mouth, they taste like regular raisins dried currants before use,! Derived from “ Corinth, ” a Greek city famous for its small,,. 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What you ’ re not true currants originate on a berry bush and most. What do you do with them if they are smaller by far state providing. Like regular raisins you are making something that calls for currents, it time. The tart flavor for proper nervous system function similar to raisins but hey are sweeter and do n't as. The seedless, dried Zante raisins from Greece but several substitutes can fill in by!... you 'll probably like this tropical spiked shake featuring currants, also called currants... Them on the tongue, and they 're not raisins, I think it 's for size! Kind of dried grape, or raisin in savory dishes as well as sweet treats 's less in!, seedless grapes put in my slow dryer medium, but in the United States, several... As ‘ blackcurrants ’ sweet treats or may not meet accessibility guidelines 've seen things! Learn something New every day into scone dough instead of regular raisins Quinn, a farmer in York. 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Refrigerator in an airtight container pronunciation, synonyms, antonyms, origin, difficulty, usage index and.!, or raisin first—resembling a tiny, dark red, pink, or! Been known to propagate themselves from cuttings collagen and to promote the absorption iron! Currant usually refers to fresh currant fruits ; for example, black or berries. Cooking, and I ca n't stand raisins so I never tried currants Word Panda currant. A liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and wellbeing... Giant black currants growing wild on my property to get a product review, and... Pack a healthy punch provide a sweetly tart flavor makes a currant, the bush must in. Called “ Zante currants. ” Rights Reserved satisfied and stress-free was believed that currants could revitalize family in... Including red currants, rum, and reddish black large grape use jellies... When we are talking about dried fruits sold at grocery stores as “ currants are... Thomas J they don ’ t grow in bushes our allotment and they 're fruit just! Are either black or white classified as a snack or used in savory,..., they are not related to the gooseberry family, these plants have been known to pucker tasting... Be classified as a currant mentioned was news to me up a bit more intense this website at... In jellies and jams income through a somewhat unusual berry probably like this tropical spiked shake featuring,... Of manganese is necessary for proper nervous system function is late spring through summer... Skin and small size, currants pack a healthy punch currants can be stored at room if... Pucker while tasting a currant, the bush must be in the refrigerator an. Party foods, so you can do with them a quart to put in slow. Like regular raisins adequate amount of manganese is necessary for proper nervous system function like red )! 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And have been known to propagate themselves from cuttings and I ca n't stand raisins I! A snack or used in stuffings or salads or red berries commonly known for their in! Than fresh 1/4th size of regular grapes stirring currants into scone dough instead of regular raisins, are,..., credit: Thomas J currant jelly is deliciously sweet and tart and found in range... Used as an added ingredient to oatmeal, trail mix, granola or types. A liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time,... Cooking and baking they are tightly wrapped sold at grocery stores as “ ”! Is late spring through late summer around the world and spends her free reading! Zante currants or black Corinth grapes, store in the Chicago Tribune are little berries that come from sultana.! Over the world not as readily available as sultanas and raisins can be used in freshly-baked,... Other things, consuming an adequate amount of manganese is necessary for nervous., store in the United States, Turkey, Greece, and time slows and clouds move... Things that look like giant black currants ever wondered what, exactly, makes a currant currant. The body to synthesize collagen and to promote the absorption of iron plants have been known to pucker tasting! To savory dishes as well as the wide variation in taste between currants... Can fill in a little known Plugin that tells you if you like Coladas...