Mulberry

Also known asMorus · 桑葚

Name: Mulberry (genus Morus). The three main fruit-bearing species are the white mulberry (Morus alba) from China, the black mulberry (Morus nigra) from south-west Asia, and the red mulberry (Morus rubra) of eastern North America. The colour of the fruit does not always match the name — white mulberries can ripen to white, pink or purple-black.

Description

Mulberries have been cultivated for thousands of years across Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The white mulberry in particular is tied to the history of silk, since its leaves are the food of the silkworm, and the tree was spread widely along the silk trade routes. The black mulberry, with its more intense, sharply sweet flavour, is the species most prized for fresh eating in Iran, Turkey and the Mediterranean.

The fruit is a cluster of small, juicy drupelets, resembling an elongated blackberry. Ripe mulberries are very soft and stain heavily, so they rarely travel well, which is why they are often seen dried or in jams, juices and syrups rather than fresh in shops.

Main nutrition value

Mulberries provide vitamin C, dietary fibre and some iron, and their dark pigments (anthocyanins and other polyphenols) give them their deep colour.

How best to be consumed

Fresh mulberries are best eaten ripe, soon after picking, since they bruise and spoil quickly.

1. Eat fresh and fully ripe, straight from the tree where possible.
2. Add to yoghurt, porridge, salads and smoothies for a sweet, juicy note.
3. Cook into pies, crumbles, jam or syrup, which also keeps a harvest.
4. Dry them in the sun or a low oven, as is common in Turkey, Central Asia and the Middle East.
5. Wear old clothes and gloves when picking, as the juice stains.

Overconsumption could cause…

Mulberries are safe in ordinary amounts, and the main points are sugar, staining and unripe fruit.

1. Digestive upset, such as loose stools, from a large amount of fruit at once.
2. Stomach discomfort from unripe fruit and green parts of the tree, which are best avoided.
3. Allergic reactions in some people, particularly those allergic to mulberry or birch pollen.
4. A lot of concentrated sugar when eaten as dried mulberries or sweetened products.

GroupsBerriesMulberry family (Moraceae)Low fatLow sodiumRich in vitamin CFresh

Made intoDried Mulberries

Related foodsBlackberryGooseberryCranberryBoysenberryStrawberryCape Gooseberry / Physalis

Wikipedia — Mulberry, used for origin, naming and history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulberry