Groseille 101
Redcurrants v blackcurrants v gooseberries
The entire reason behind my creation of this Substack is the fact that I habitually go on deep dives and learn weird fun facts that I pile into a notes app. I figured, if it’s in the notes app it may as well be shared? Sometimes, there is just too much to include in a video so here I am, writing it all out for us all. Like did you know that blackcurrant became illegal in the US in 1911? Much more on that below but this explains why purple candy in the US tastes like grape rather than blackcurrant in Europe…
I currently, or should I say currant-ly (banning myself from any more bad puns for the remainder of this newsletter) have a bounty of currants in my garden. We’ve been planting non-stop which means I’ve been snacking non-stop on redcurrants, whitecurrants, blackcurrants and impatiently awaiting my gooseberries to ripen.
In French, currants are all known as groseilles, blackcurrant is cassis, and gooseberries are groseilles à maquereau. Make sure to remember this is traveling to France this summer because you will not want to miss out on cassis sorbet, redcurrant red berry coupes and more! Paris City Guide (updated June 10) here for all those lucky enough to make it to the Olympics :’)
So What’s the Difference?
All currants and gooseberries are members of the same genus called Ribes. With a thin skin, they can all be eaten raw or cooked, they are all slightly different in appearance and taste.
Currants (red, white, pink) - ribes rubrum
These grow in bunches like grapes and can vary in colors ranging from red, pink to white.
Taste - sweet and acid
Blackcurrants - ribes nigrum
These also grow in bunches like the currants above but they are different (yet very similar) species.
Taste - acid, earthy, tannin-y (yes, like wine!)
Gooseberries - ribes uva-crispa
These are bigger and individually grow on a single branch, no bunches. The plant has loads of thorns They range in color from the more common green ones to yellow, brown, red, purple, and sometimes even black.
Taste - acid but some varieties can be juicy and plump
All are very high in antioxidants vitamin C; however, gooseberries are real show offs and have extra healthy elements including vitamin A & B, iron and phosphorus. In France, it’s common to use black currant leaves to gargle with when suffering from a sore throat!
Where Do They Come From?
Although currants have been prolific in Europe since prehistory, it wasn’t until the Middle Ages that they begun to be harvested and properly eaten. Similarly, it wasn’t until the Middle Ages that gooseberries were eaten. These plump, juicy berries originated both in Europe and in North America (depending on the variety).
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In French, a gooseberry is called a groseille a maquereau, a mackerel currant… Where does that name come from? I had always used the term and never thought much about it until the other day. That is how this deep dive, turned notes app, turned newsletter came to be. Turns out that during the Middle Ages in Northern Europe, gooseberries were commonly eaten with mackerel. Think about it, this makes so much sense - mackerel is super oily and rich whereas gooseberries are tangy, acid and sweet. They both neutralize and compliment each other!
This is also why tart lingonberries are so commonly eaten in Northern countries like Sweden to balance out pungent herring or fatty meatballs!
Until currants and gooseberries, blackcurrants, have their origin in Europe and Northern Asia and weren’t common until the 16th century. They were commonly used as clothing dye as well for their medicinal qualities. They’re incredibly common in the UK, a fact I was pleasantly surprised by upon moving overseas as I’m a huge fan of the flavor. In the UK, 90% of the crops go towards the production of Ribena, the blackcurrant-flavored cordial.
In the United States, blackcurrant was banned in 1911 due to the fruit’s predisposition to carry a a fungus called white pine blister rust which damaged pine trees. As time went on, new blackcurrant species resistant to this fungus were developed so the nationwide ban was lifted in 1966. Many states did not lift their ban until at least 2003 which explains why only 0.1% of all Americans have ever tasted this dreamy little berry!
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Nowadays, Europe is by far the top producer of blackcurrants and produces 99.1% of the world's supply…
Want to Grow Them Yourself?
These little bushes are great for smaller spaces, even apartments as while they can grow in free soil, they can also thrive in containers. To obtain your first berries, you won’t even need to wait that long! It should take 1-3 years for currants and gooseberries and 2-5 years for blackcurrant.
While currants are auto fertile, blackcurrants are weaker so they will grow stronger and be more prolific with a second plant nearby. Gooseberries are also generally auto fertile but grow better with different cultivators.
That’s it for this week! This is a reader-supported newsletter so your support allows me to keep researching and doing what I do :) Remember to consider a paid subscription is you’d like to access my recipes or city guides. Thank you!
I had gooseberry wine with fish in Finland, I didn’t realise I was in a way connecting with the Middle Ages how lovely!!
Merci, this was very insightful.
I am not the biggest fan of currants but I might give them a second chance