Seasons/Availability
Boysenberries are typically available during spring.
Current Facts
A favorite with children, boysenberries have recently made a comeback in the delicious world of syrups, jams and jellies.
Description/Taste
The boysenberry, pronounced BOY-zuhn-behr-ee, like dewberries and loganberries, are a trailing type of plant that grows horizontally instead of erect. Plump and juicy, boysenberries are sweeter, ripen sooner and grow in looser clusters. Blackberry-like in looks, this yummy berry is larger, has a velvety seriously soft texture and is deep reddish-purple, almost a rich maroon to a deep burgundy in color.
Nutritional Value
Offering some fiber and low in sodium, boysenberries are a very good source of vitamin C, plus provide iron and calcium. One cup of berries contains about 66 calories.
Applications
These sweet luscious berries make a perfect substitute for most other berries in a variety of desserts, salads and baked goods. Make a pretty boysenberry pie. Its flavorful juice makes refreshing beverages and super sorbets. Blend whole berries in vanilla or plain yogurt. This berry's gorgeous color makes an attractive sauce: Blend three cups boysenberries and one-half cup sugar; add one tablespoon lemon juice; heat gently until berries are soft; puree and strain. Use as a topping for cheesecake, ice cream, frozen yogurt or sorbet. Make boysenberry syrup or sauce; drizzle on pancakes, waffles, toast, crusty breads, croissants, baking powder biscuits, buttermilk biscuits, English muffins and French toast. Use whole fresh berries as a dressy garnish. To store, keep berries refrigerated only a day or two. Use promptly after purchase for optimum quality.
Geography/History
Another "berry" that is not technically a berry, such as the blackberry, the boysenberry is botanically an aggregate fruit. Developing from a flower, an aggregate fruit, or etaerio, produces numerous simple pistils. Other examples include the blackberry and raspberry whose simple fruits are called drupelets named because each one is like a small drupe that is connected to a receptacle. Berry authoritarians credit a man named Rudolph Boysen for being the first to grow this berry in the 1930s. Walter Knott, a gentleman who rightfully claimed to be a berry expert, came across Boysen's abandoned berry field that had the remnants of very sad-looking and deteriorating caneberry plants. Knott gathered up the tired withering plants and took them home. Giving them tender loving care, he nurtured the ailing plants until they once again produced quality berries. Marketing the berries at his fruit stand in 1935, Knott cordially called them "boysenberries" in honor of their original grower. Becoming quite popular with consumers, Mrs. Knott made succulent preserves from the boysenberries and the rest is history. The now very famous Knott's Berry Farm located in Buena Park, California, draws year round tourists who love to taste the numerous scrumptious berry treats it offers. In the United States, Oregon, California, Texas and Washington State are major berry producers.
Featured Recipes
Recipes that include Boysenberries. One
is easiest, three is harder.
