Raspberries

Red raspberries were said to exist before the Romans came into power. The Romans initially spread the raspberry across Europe. The English took the raspberry and hybridized it and improved them during the middle ages. The English exported the plant to the United States in the 1700’s. The black raspberry is native to North America. Raspberries belong to the genus (Rubus). There are over 200 species of raspberries and the fruits are red, purple, black, yellow and orange. Botanically, the raspberry is not a berry at all, but is an aggregate fruit of numerous drupelets around a central core. Raspberries are harvested from early summer and into fall.

Raspberries have many uses. The leaves of raspberry plants are used to make herbal teas and they purported to be helpful for sore throats and stomach ailments. Raspberries contain antioxidants which helps promote cardiovascular health. They are rich in vitamin C and are a good source of soluble fiber. They contain less than 1 gram of fat per cup, very little sodium and no cholesterol. Raspberries are very tasty when eaten as a fresh fruit and they are excellent in jams, jellies, pies, and desert toppings.