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Appearance & Taste
In appearance the Black mulberry just looks like a large blackberry and is, similarly, a collective fruit which is large (grows to around 2.5cm) and juicy. In terms of taste, it has a good balance of sweetness and tartness that makes it the best flavoured species of mulberry.
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Where It Comes From
The tree grows wild in northern Asia Minor, India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and as far as Persia and is now cultivated throughout Europe.
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Health Benefits
Black mulberries are high in vitamin C, iron, magnesium, potassium, and riboflavin. In addition, they contain some of the most powerful and effective antioxidants, Anthocyanins and Flavonoids, which can help to improve blood circulation, neutralize free radicals and improve the body’s immune system.
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Uses
Apart from eating fresh, the black mulberry is used in:
- The preparation of a syrup, employed to flavour or colour any other medicine
- Pies, tarts, wines and cordials.
- Producing a red-violet to dark purple dye
- confectionery products such as jam, marmalade, pulp and paste
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Fruit Facts
- The Black Mulberry was known in the whole of Southern Europe from the earliest times, and it is presumed that it was introduced from Persia. It is mentioned by most of the early Greek and Roman writers.
- In Italy the Black Mulberry was employed for feeding the silkworm until about 1434.
- The black mulberry tree grows to a height of around 10m
- Many mulberry trees have been known to live and bear fruit for centuries e.g. one living mulberry tree in Brentford, England, is believed to have been planted, from Persian stock, in 1548.
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How to prepare to eat
- Not much preparation required, just pick, wash and eat.
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