blackcurrant

What does it do: Blackcurrant has a long history as a tonic for children recovering from serious illness: Culpeper states '...as a restorative for the young and ailing it has few to equal its potency'.

However, Perthshire growers George and Douglas McLaren will spend most of next Saturday taking tractortrailer loads of visitors on tours of their blackcurrant fields - and then invite them to pick-your-own (PYO).

The apple and blackcurrant flavoured juice drinks being sold in Tesco, McDonald's and Costco could present a safety risk and customers are being advised to dispose of them immediately.

| Prune one third of blackcurrant stems to ground level to encourage new growth.

Make a pot of our stunning, seasonal blackcurrant jam and make the most of these beautiful berries.

The Caine Prize for African Writing announced on Monday that the winner of this year's GBP10,000 prize is Kenyan writer Makena Onjerika for her short story titled Fanta Blackcurrant.

It is when one cooks a blackcurrant, though, that the magic happens.

Most of the UK's blackcurrant harvest goes into Ribena.

Featured is the famous Australian wine Willowglen, with choices of Cabernet Merlot 2015 (red wine), from southeastern Australia, with lifted aromas of blackcurrant, blueberries over hints of bay leaf and milk chocolate and a palate of soft medium-bodied wine showing layers of blackcurrant and red berries, complemented by soft tannins and nuances of chocolate oak; the Willowglen Chardonnay 2015 (white wine), from the Riviera region, with bouquet of tight, fresh pear with stone fruit and balanced with a hint of oak and carried on a weighty palate of peach and melon notes.

The ripe bramble, red cherry and blackcurrant fruit will not be smothered by the meat while its attractive touches of cinnamon, vanilla and pepper all add pleasing complexity.

We have sourced wonderful pure juices for this drink, including Edward Thompson's unique "Pixley Noir" blackcurrant variety grown in Herefordshire, which has a softness that blends perfectly with the raspberries and strawberries.