CURRANT

Ribes staivum, R. nigrum

Red currants grow from one main stem and descend from a wild plant that grew near streams in Western Europe. ( A native American currant lost favor when it began attracting a pest that subsequently leapt onto white pine, causing terrific losses of trees.) Black currants still grow wild across Europe and northern Asia but are domesticated as well. They are multi-stemmed plants. Much favored in Scandinavia, red currants turn up in delicious jams and jellies there. Remarkably high in Vitamin C, black currant juice is a favorite healthy drink in northern Europe—but then so is crème de cassis, a black currant liqueur produced in the heart of Burgundy.

Currant 2

Currant 1

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