| Scientific name: | Rubus sect. Rubus |
| German name: | Brommbeere |
| Other names: | Rubus ursinus, Rubus laciniatus, Rubus argutus, Rubus armeniacus, Rubus plicatus, Rubus ulmifolius, Rubus allegheniensis |
| Classification: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Subfamily: | Rosoideae |
| Genus: | Rubus |
| Season: | August - October |
When mankind was still looking very closely at the life of plants, they saw a mystical and mysterious meaning in the process of how a blackberry bush grows. The shoots of the blackberry shrub grow back to the ground after growing out, so that the shoots take root there. In the past, children were sent through this arch to cure skin diseases and similar ailments. The semicircle also symbolized the upper half of the annual circle of the sun and was intended to illustrate rebirth to those crawling through it. Also in the leaves, which first have a division into three and then a division into five, a mystical power was suspected.
Quantity per 100 grams
| Calories | 43 |
| Fat content | 0,5 g |
| Saturated fatty acids | 0 g |
| Polyunsaturated fatty acids | 0,3 g |
| Monounsaturated fatty acids | 0 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 1 mg |
| Potassium | 162 mg |
| Carbohydrates | 10 g |
| Roughage | 5 g |
| Sugar | 4,9 g |
| Protein | 1,4 g |
The blackberry originated in Eurasia and North America. Just like the raspberry, the blackberry must be assigned to the berry-like collecting drupes, since they both consist of several individual drupes and are therefore not a berry in the botanical sense. The main growing areas are in Asia, Belgium, Germany, France, Croatia, the Netherlands, North and South America, Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic.
The blackberry as we know it today has actually only existed since the middle of the 19th century. In its development and cultivation it was involved in the development of at least 16 other rubus species. The German name blackberry derives from the Old German "Bramberi", which in turn derives from the English "bramble" for thorn bush.
Fresh, slightly warmed blackberry juice is effective against hoarseness, urinary stasis, diarrhoea, strengthens the digestive organs and cleanses the blood. However, people suffering from metabolic diseases should keep their fingers off the blackberry as it contains a high proportion of oxalic acid.
The leaves of the blackberry bush are a natural remedy for heartburn. To do this, the dried leaves must simply be chewed at a leisurely pace. In the Netherlands and France, the blackberry is even recognised as a medicinal plant.
In contrast to their close relatives, the raspberry, the blackberry bush has much larger and more robust spines, which are also directed to the rear. Therefore, gloves and long, firm clothing should be worn during harvesting, as otherwise painful scratches may occur.
Contrary to popular opinion, there is no danger of infection with the fox tapeworm with all kinds of berries, as current studies report.
Blackberries are mainly used as fresh fruit in desserts and cold dishes. It is sufficient to wash the berries well.
Also the famous English "Jam" jam is mostly made from blackberries. Those who like Chinese tea can also use the blackberry, as boiled blackberry and raspberry leaves have an almost identical taste to the East Asian hot drink.
After the blackberries have been harvested, they should always be stored away from the sun. They should also be kept refrigerated and not heaped or stacked.
Since blackberries do not ripen, they should always be bought or harvested fully ripe. This can be seen from the fact that blackberries can be detached from the bush at full ripeness after gentle pressure.