Raspberries are a member of the rose family. The plants are perennial with woody stems. They are a bramble fruit like blackberry. They taste delicious and are sweet and are subtly tart.
Raspberry Varieties
The European red raspberry species is Rubus idaeus while the American red raspberry species is Rubus strigosus. Most of the modern commercial raspberry are derived from hybrids between Rubus idaeus and Rubus strigosus. Black raspberry species is Rubus occidentalis. They are occasionally cultivated in United States and have a distinct richer flavor. They are available as fresh and frozen fruits as well as jams, preserves and other products. Purple raspberries are produced by the hybridization of red and black raspberries. But commercial production of this variety is rare. The red and black raspberry species have pale yellow natural or horticultural variants due to the presence of recessive genes that impede production of anthocyanin pigments. These fruits are called yellow raspberries or golden raspberries.
Raspberries have an aggregate fruit structure as they are a compendium of smaller seed-containing fruits called drupelets which are arranged around a hollow central cavity. The weight of an individual raspberry is around 3 – 5 grams i.e 0.11 – 0.18 oz. It is made up of around 100 drupelets. Each drupelet consists of a juicy pulp and a single central seed.
Earlier, raspberries were a mid – summer crop but now with the advancement of technology and cultivars, they are available year round. They are easy to grow in moist temperate regions and have a tendency to spread. So they need to be pruned. They require ample sunlight and water for optimal development. But wet soils or excess irrigation can cause Phytophthora root rot which is a serious pest problem affecting red raspberries.
The difference between raspberries and blackberries or dewberries is that a raspberry has a hollow core once it is removed from the receptacle.
Raspberries are grown for the fresh fruit market. They are also grown for commercial processing into individual quick frozen fruit, juices, puree or as dried fruit.
The leading commercial producers of raspberries are Russia, Serbia, United States, Poland, Germany, Ukraine and Canada.
Raspberry Leaves
The leaves have an astringent flavor can be used either fresh or dried in herbal and medicinal teas.
Selecting
These fruits are highly perishable so its better to purchase them when you are planning to use them. Choose deep colored, plump and firm raspberries and avoid the mushy and soft ones. If you are buying the ones that are sold in containers, make sure that the container is free of moisture or stain which are indications of spoilage.
Storing
Once you purchase the fruits, refrigerate them and they will remain fresh for around 1 – 2 days. Dont expose them to sunlight or leave them at room temperature for long, since they can easily get spoilt. Remove any fruits that are spoilt or molded before refrigerating them, as there is a chance of the spoilt fruits contaminating the other good ones.
How to freeze Raspberries
Wash the berries gently as they are very delicate. To wash them, fill a bowl with water. Add a handful of the berries, swirl them in the water gently. Using a slotted spoon, remove them and dry using a clean towel. Spread them in a single layer on a cookie sheet and keep it in the freezer. Once the berries get frozen, transfer them to a ziploc storage bag and keep it back in the freezer. The frozen berries will remain good for around 7 to 8 months.
Nutrition Benefits
These fruits are rich in Vitamin C, dietary fibre and manganese. They also have a considerable amount of folic acid, magnesium, iron, copper and B vitamins 1-3.
As they have an aggregate fruit structure, there is an increase in the proportion of dietary fibre. They are known to have the highest fibre contents among plant foods.
Ellagic acid which is a natural phenol antioxidant is found in raspberries. The berries also have dense amounts of quercetin, gallic acid, anthocyanins, cyanidins, pelargonidins, catechins, kaempferol and salicylic acid. The anthocyanins give raspberries their rich red color.
Some delicious dessert recipes that can be made using these fruits are raspberry cake, raspberry almond tart, raspberry cheesecake, raspberry pie, raspberry tiramisu and raspberry cupcakes. Raspberry jam, juice and preserve can also be prepared.
Raspberry Ketone Diet
Raspberry ketone is a natural compound that give the red raspberries their sweet aroma. It is used in cosmetics, perfumery and as food additive to impart a fruity odor. One kg of raspberries yields a pure raspberry ketone extract of 1 to 4 mg. Raspberry ketones are widely being marketed as a miracle fat burner. They are sold in dietary suppplement form as an aid for weight loss. These supplements can be purchased online as well as in stores specializing in dietary supplements.
Scientists conducted experiments by giving raspberry ketones to mice. The mice were given a high-fat diet enriched with raspberry ketones. It was found that the weight gain induced by the high fat diet was reversed because of the addition of raspberry ketones. In another study it was found that raspberry ketones helped activate adiponectin, the hormone that regulates fat breakdown.
But there is no research conducted yet for the effects of long term consumption of raspberry ketone supplements. Raspberry ketones cannot be recommended for weight loss as there is no sufficient research to substantiate it.
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