Mulberries are considered a superfood because they have many beneficial properties. We explain why the red, black and white berries are so healthy.
Red, black and white mulberries
Mulberries were originally native to Asia and North America. The white mulberry trees were planted for the production of silk, since silk moths feed exclusively on the leaves of the plant.
Three varieties – red, black and white mulberries – have been known in Europe since Roman times. Here the berries are ripe in August and September. The white and red mulberries grow in Germany because they can withstand frost, in contrast to the black mulberry tree. Mulberry trees grow best in wine-growing regions, as they require similar climatic conditions as grapes.
The fruits of a plant ripen one after the other and cannot be harvested at the same time. Since they are hardly grown industrially in Germany, it is not easy to find fresh mulberries. The fresh berries are soft and spoil quickly, so they are more likely to be sold dried or processed.
Mulberries as a superfood
Mulberries are often traded as a superfood because they have many healthy nutrients. For example, the berries contain the following properties:
Vitamin C: With 100 grams of mulberries you cover about 10 percent of your daily requirement of vitamin C – they contain 100 milligrams of the nutrient. While vitamin C is not uncommon, it is an all the more important vitamin that strengthens your immune system.
Potassium: Mulberries contain 260 milligrams of potassium per 100 grams. Potassium is important for blood pressure and the cardiovascular system.
Trace elements: Mulberries also contain the important trace elements zinc and iron. Ones are mainly found in the black and red mulberries.
Antioxidant resveratol: The substance is said to have numerous health-promoting properties: resveratol is said to strengthen the nerves and protect against negative influences and is used as an anti-aging product because it is said to slow down the aging process. However, the consumer advice center warns that these effects have not been sufficiently documented. Antioxidants also protect against free radicals.
Mulberries are said to have an expectorant effect. Therefore, the juice of the berries is said to be helpful for colds, for example.
Mulberries in the kitchen
You can eat fresh fruit with delicious desserts such as quark, ice cream or nice cream. You can also use mulberries – similar to blueberries – for baking muffins or a cake. Simply spread them in the finished dough before baking. Mulberries in the German trade probably do not come from overseas because they are very sensitive and do not tolerate long transport routes. However, you should make sure that the berries were not imported from another continent.
However, since mulberries are rarely found fresh in Germany, they are more often found in processed form. For example, you can find mulberry jam or jelly in the supermarket. You can buy mulberry juice to relieve colds.
The white mulberries are mainly traded dried. This variety is also available from German cultivation. White mulberries are suitable, for example, for homemade muesli or muesli bars. But they also go great in a nut mix for in between.
