Raspberry

  • Alexandra Misca

  • Clasa a 12-a B

  • Colegiul Național “Mircea cel Bătrân”

General information

Raspberries are edible fruits of plant species of the Rubus genus and Rosaceae family. But the term is also used to name the plant itself; raspberries are woody and perennial plants.

The raspberries can be classified by color into:

  • Red raspberries

  • Black raspberries

  • Purple raspberries

  • Blue raspberries

  • Golden or yellow raspberries

Another criteria to divide the raspberries is also the area of cultivation:

Examples of raspberry species in Rubus subgenus Idaeobatus include:

  • Rubus crataegifolius (Asian raspberry)

  • Rubus gunnianus (Tasmanian alpine raspberry)

  • Rubus idaeus (European red raspberry)

  • Rubus leucodermis (Whitebark or Western raspberry, Blue raspberry, Black raspberry)

  • Rubus occidentalis (Black raspberry)

  • Rubus parvifolius (Australian native raspberry)

  • Rubus phoenicolasius (Wine raspberry or Wineberry)

  • Rubus rosifolius (West Indian raspberry)

  • Rubus strigosus (American red raspberry) (syn. R. idaeus var. strigosus)

  • Rubus ellipticus (Yellow Himalayan Raspberry)

Several species of Rubus, also called raspberries, are classified in other subgenera, including:

  • Rubus arcticus (Arctic raspberry, subgenus Cyclactis)

  • Rubus deliciosus (Boulder raspberry, subgenus Anoplobatus)

  • Rubus nivalis (Snow raspberry, subgenus Chamaebatus)

  • Rubus odoratus (Flowering raspberry, subgenus Anoplobatus)

  • Rubus sieboldii (Molucca raspberry, subgenus Malachobatus)

In conclusion, they can be cultivated in a variety of places, from those with hard conditions, to temperate areas. Top 3 producers in 2011 were Russia, Poland and Serbia.

These fruits are a rich source of vitamin C, manganese and dietary fiber, but they also contain a moderate amount of vitamin K and are a low-glycemic index food with total sugar content of only 4% and no starch.

Stories

  • A French legend tells us that raspberries were originally white. The legend states that the nymph Ida pricked her finger while picking berries for the infant Jupiter, and raspberries have since been red with her blood.

  • The Koreans have a wine made of raspberries. “Bokbunja” is a wine made of black raspberries and according to a legend, a long time ago, a couple was looking for a medicine to help them have a child. They thought there was no treatment to help them, until they found out that eating raspberries would help. They became so healthy that their biological system started working perfectly!

Bokbunja liquor is made of Bokbunja, a type of raspberry. It is the special product of Sunwoonsa region, a liquor made by wives between June – September using fruits that grow deep in the mountain and are not polluted.

  • The Golden Raspberry Awards, called the “Razzies” for short, is an award ceremony in recognition of the worst in film. The term raspberry in the name is used in its irreverent sense, as in “blowing a raspberry”.

Medical informations

  • In traditional medicine the tea made of raspberries leaf supports healthy menstruation, tones the uterus and may be used for menstrual cramps.

  • The fruit itself helps for stomach, heart, respiratory system problems, vitamin deficiencies, fluid retention, skin rash, sore throat.

  • The Chinese ancient medicine used this fruit to purify the kidneys and the liver. They thought it would help clean the urinary tract.

  • In Oriental medicine, it is believed that iron in the raspberries helps against amnesia.

  • The Iroquois had many uses for red raspberry. This is just one of them: the root tips were boiled into a concentrated decoction to be used as a blood purifier and to lower or raise blood pressure.

  • Raspberries ketones aid in losing weight.

  • A 2001 study has found that black raspberries appear to be as helpful as red raspberries in preventing or slowing the growth of cancer. Black raspberries, according to an article in the journal Cancer Research, help protect against esophageal cancer, which is the sixth-leading cause of deaths from cancer worldwide.

  • Some studies have shown that raspberries may help reduce glucose levels and therefore may be helpful to people with diabetes.

  • Dark Chocolate Raspberry Tofu Mousse

RECIPE

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup honey

  • 1/2 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 2 cups fresh raspberries

  • 2 (12.3-ounc) packages silken tofu, drained

  • 4 ounces quality dark chocolate, broken into pieces

  • Additional berries and mint leaves for garnish

How to?

  • Place honey, unsweetened cocoa powder, vanilla, 1/2 cup gently washed raspberries, and tofu in a blender or food processor, and blend until smooth.

  • Melt chocolate over low heat in a double boiler or saucepan, and stir until smooth. Gently fold melted chocolate into the tofu mixture.

  • Divide remaining raspberries and them place on the bottom of 6 glasses or serving bowls; top with mousse. Cover and chill for 1 hour or more. If desired, top with more raspberries and garnish with mint leaves.

Personal approach

personalI found it really pleasant to work on this project, especially because I have a lot of beautiful memories followed by the scent and the taste of raspberries. A few years ago, in the summertime, my sister and I were eating them daily in the back of my grandma’s yard. When I was in a camp in the 8th grade, we were running around the forest collecting them, until we realized that we could meet a bear… I have to admit now that I wouldn’t have the patience to look for them again, that’s why every time I have the chance, I buy them.