Only in the 16th century, people began to grow currants near houses. And before that, it grew only along the banks of rivers and streams, in flood meadows and near marshes - that is, in places with the highest humidity. And today in such natural places you can see wild currants, but with smaller fruits than cultivated garden varieties.
General information
The height of the garden bushes of fruit currants is 1.5 meters or more. Wild currant - its undersized predecessor, has growth several times smaller.
This plant can bear fruit up to 20 years. However, its productivity is significantly reduced after 10 years, the branches dry up, new root shoots appear, and the fruits are smaller.
Currant got its name in connection with a peculiar aroma that spreads tens of meters from the bush during flowering. In the Old Slavonic language, its name sounds like “currant”, translates as “strong smell”.
Wild plants in science
All wild plants are an excellent source for introduction into the culture in an improved form. Various types of plants, such as wild currants and gooseberries, are collected and used for breeding in botanical and various breeding institutions.
Collections of garden plants are sources of genes for resistance to various pests and diseases, therefore, when breeding completely new varieties, they represent a storehouse of active biological substances.
Wild currant: types and varieties, distribution
In the vast forests and on the banks of Siberian rivers, on the ridges of the Pamir and Tien Shan, wild blackcurrant grows everywhere . It differs from the European plant and represents a separate subspecies having a more sprawling shape of the bush and brown, almost black or brown color of the berries. Residents of these areas are pleased to make pleasant tasty wild currant jam.
America (North and South), Asia - the real kingdom of these plants.
There is also a wild-boar in the Far East. Its berries have an oblong-rounded shape and a bluish-black color with a wax coating. The locals have a common name - “Aldan grapes”.
In the wetlands from the Ob to the Sea of Okhotsk, Mokhovka currant grows. It is a squat shrub with creeping branches. It has large and delicate berries, which, after full ripening, quickly crumble.
The most common type of wild currant is a census brought to Europe at the beginning of the 18th century from North America.
Using
Fresh berries are very rich in various useful properties, from which jams, jellies, juices, compotes, fruit drinks are prepared. You can simply close the berries in sterilized jars, sprinkle aspirin on top or pour boiled lemon juice on top. You can also dry the leaves and fruits of this magnificent miraculous plant. And wild currant jam many cook.
The enormous benefit of these berries is confirmed by the fact that to satisfy the body's need for ascorbic acid, it is enough to eat 20-30 berries every day. For year-round use, the fruits can be frozen, so that in the winter period they can be used in food in a thawed form or drink compote made from them.
Wild currant, as well as cultivated, has great value in freshly picked form. Unfortunately, berries do not tolerate transportation well, but there are ways to preserve their excellent properties. Grinding fresh berries with lots of sugar is best. This helps to preserve their properties until the next season.
This amazing healthy berry is known to improve appetite. It is not without reason that the German proverb says: "I ate a currant, filled a small edge." Here it is - a wild currant.
Jam
Imagine one of the recipes for wild currant jam (census), which is practically no different from the recipes for jam from garden fruits.
Four kilograms of peeled currant fruit are thoroughly washed and dried, poured into a large pan. 4 kg of granulated sugar is added to it and all this is boiled over low heat with periodic stirring until the latter is completely dissolved.
After the start of boiling, cook for about 50 minutes (the foam can not be removed). And after complete cooling, pour the jam into jars washed with boiling water.
In conclusion, a little about the beneficial properties of currants
The described plant, especially wild blackcurrant, contains many vitamins, and therefore has excellent healing properties.
- The fruits have an excellent tonic, blood purifying, vasodilating and diuretic effect.
- Rutin in currants (Vitamin P) strengthens blood vessels.
- The pigment that gives the fruit a color (carotene, vitamin A is formed from it) improves cell metabolism.
- Niacin (B3) helps to strengthen the nervous system, and vitamin B5 gives a beautiful shine to the hair.
- Iron and calcium are well involved in blood formation.
- Manganese and magnesium are favorable for the functioning of the heart system.
It should be noted that similar properties are inherent not only to the fruits of currant, but also to its leaves.