5 replies to this topic

[BeesNBrews]

Curious... reading some of the recent topics there are several recipes and responses that refer to adding currants or black currants. Since there are currants and black currants that are actually a type of small raisin (Vitus spp.) and currants that are actually "currants" (Ribes sp. or R. nigrum for black currants) I sometimes wonder which currants people are using.I just opened one of my Basic Black Currant wines that I made a couple years ago and it is phenomenal--great taste, great body, unique bouquet and aroma--and I can't wait to open another bottle (to my taste black currants are terrible fresh but great when made into jams, jellies or wines). The small raisin currants would never make a wine like that.Since actual currants are becoming more available, both fresh and dried, as a high anti-oxidant super food it would be possible for a newbie to use one instead of the other. Does anyone actually specify which one to use or do we assume that everyone is talking about the small raisins?

[MyaCullen]

huh, i didn't know about the raisins, if i were making something calling for currant i'd be searching for the real thing

[MtnBrewer]

Agree with mic. Raisins are grapes....currants are not grapes.

[jayb151]

I honestly have not been seeing currants too much. Though I did plant some red currants about 6 years ago, so now I have crazy fruitful mature plants. I only wish I had planted black currants!

[BeesNBrews]

Agree with mic. Raisins are grapes....currants are not grapes.

Black currants are actually quite large, even when dried. They do have seeds on the inside. They are not very sweet. As an example:https://www.currantc.../Dried-CurrantsThe boxes of currants in the grocery store, at least in Ohio, are zante currants, which are actually a grape. They may even be marketed as currants without being labeled zante currants. Sun-Maid even describes them as "Natural Zante Currants are sun-dried from the Black Corinth grape, a very special grape grown in only selected vineyards of California." They are seedless and sweet and flavorful.Most of the recipes that call for the addition of currants are probably asking for the small dried grape. However, with some recipes, I have to wonder which they are using. Most people would not distinguish them from the name but they definitely would provided a different character to the wine.

[BeesNBrews]

I honestly have not been seeing currants too much. Though I did plant some red currants about 6 years ago, so now I have crazy fruitful mature plants. I only wish I had planted black currants!

Black Currants (Ribes spp.) only yield 4-6# per shrub; not a great producer. My reds yield at least twice what the blacks do. You may be better off with reds.