Currant wild: species, useful properties, wild currant jam

Only in the 16th century people began to grow currants near the houses. And before that, it grew only near the banks of rivers and rivers, in meadows of jellies and near marshes - that is, in places with the highest humidity. And today in these natural places you can see the wild currant, but with smaller fruits than the cultivated garden varieties.

General information

The height of garden bushes of fruit currant is 1.5 meters and more. Currant wild - its low-growth predecessor, has growth several times less.

This plant can bear fruit up to 20 years. However, its yield is significantly reduced after 10 years, the branches dry up, new radical shoots appear, and the fruits grow smaller.

Currant got its name in connection with a peculiar aroma that spreads to tens of meters from the bush in the flowering period. In the Old Slavic language, its name sounds like a "bug", translated as "strong smell".

Wild plants in science

All wild plants represent an excellent source for introduction into culture in an improved form. In botanical and various breeding institutions, various plant species such as wild currant and gooseberries are harvested and used for breeding.

Collections of garden plants are sources of resistance genes to various pests and diseases, therefore, when breeding completely new varieties, they represent a deposit of active biological substances.

Currant wild: species and varieties, distribution

In the vast forests and on the banks of the rivers of Siberia, on the ridges of the Pamirs and the Tien Shan, wild black currant everywhere grows . It differs from the European plant and represents a separate subspecies, which has a more spreading form of a bush and a brown, almost black or brown color of berries. Residents of these regions are pleased to make a nice tasty jam from the wild currant.

America (North and South), Asia is the real kingdom of these plants.

There is also the dushusha in the Far East. Its berries have an oblong-rounded shape and a bluish-black coloration with a wax coating. Local residents have their own name - "Aldan Grapes".

In wetlands from the Ob to the Sea of Okhotsk grows currant-moss. This is a squat bush with creeping branches. He has large and delicate berries, which after full maturation quickly crumble.

The most common type of wild currant is the re-entry, brought to Europe in the early 18th century from North America.

Using

Very rich in various useful properties are fresh berries, from which they prepare jams, jellies, juices, compotes, fruit drinks, etc. You can simply close berries in sterilized jars, sprinkle with aspirin on top or pour lemon juice with boiled juice. You can also dry the leaves and fruits of this magnificent miraculous plant. And jam from the wild currant, many brew.

The huge 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 the year-round consumption of fruits can be frozen, in order to use in winter in food in defrosted form or drink prepared from them compote.

Currant wild, like cultivated, has great value in freshly collected form. Unfortunately, berries do not tolerate transportation, but there are ways to preserve their magnificent properties. The best is to grind fresh berries with a lot of sugar. This contributes to the preservation of their properties until the next season.

It is known that this amazing beneficial berry improves appetite. It's not for nothing that the German proverb says: "I ate a currant and stuffed it with a bit of humor." She is such a wild currant.

Jam

Imagine one of the recipes of jam from wild currant (rechis), which practically does not differ from the recipes of jam from garden fruits.

Four kilograms of peeled currant fruits are thoroughly washed and dried, they are poured into a large saucepan. It is added 4 kg of granulated sugar and it is cooked on low heat with periodic stirring until the latter dissolves completely.

After the beginning of boiling, cook for about 50 minutes (foam can not be removed). And after complete cooling, pour the jam into cans, washed with boiling water.

In conclusion, a little about the useful properties of currants

Described plant, especially wild black currant, contains many vitamins, and therefore has excellent healing properties.

• The fruits have an excellent tonic, blood-cleansing, vasodilating and diuretic action.
• Rutin, contained in the currant (vitamin P), strengthens the blood vessels.
• Pigment, giving fruit color (carotene, from it is formed by vitamin A), improves cellular 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 such properties are inherent not only to the fruit of the currant, but also to its leaves.