A delicious little berry with lots of benefits.
It’s June! That means it’s the beginning of berry season. Even though strawberries, blackberries and raspberries are popular right now, the big box grocery stores are limited in their selection of berries. There are many more types of delicious berries out there if you are willing to look a little further or go foraging in the countryside.
I’ve been enjoying mulberries. Mulberries are not as well-known as strawberries. But, to me they are far better. The flavor reminds me of blackberries but, they are much sweeter and not as tart. I am so thrilled to have wild mulberries growing in my yard. There is a patch of trees that has been growing next to the driveway since I was a child. Picking mulberries was always a favorite pastime.
Major stores don’t usually carry them for many reasons. They don’t store for very long and are super delicate, making it difficult to transport them for long distances. The best way to enjoy them is freshly picked from the tree. Although you can often find them at farmer’s markets and local farm stands. If you like dried fruit Asian food markets usually have them in the dried fruit section. You can also find them in a dry powdered form in health food stores and on Amazon.
There are many species that grow in temperate climates in the world. My trees are called red mulberries (Morus rubra) which is native to eastern and central North America. Their yields are affected by the seasons. Last year, which was very hot and dry, the trees had a very small and short harvest season. There was a lot of rain this Spring and as you can see from the pictures, the trees are heavy with berries. They were very easy to pick. I was able to fill up a quart container in less than 10 minutes.
Folklore
Mulberries and mulberry trees have featured in myths and legends for millennia. In European folklore mulberry symbolizes patience, and the spirit of giving and caring. In China mulberry trees are considered the “world tree that connects the Heavens, the Earth and the Underworld”. It symbolizes an all-around sense of connectedness and joy in the everyday pleasures of life.
Nutrition
This information is for educational purposes only. Please consult your Health Practitioner.
In addition to these delicious little fruits being auspicious, they are also very good for you. The berries are packed with vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. There are many studies from around the world showing the berries to be full of antioxidants and to have anti-inflammatory properties. This makes them extremely useful for helping cancer patients, as protection from DNA damage and to reduce the growth of malignant cells.
Mulberries specifically, have all of these benefits plus many others. They are high in iron. They work as an ally for diabetes patients and those concerned with cholesterol levels. These benefits even extend to the leaves of the plant, which have been used by herbalists and holistic practitioners for centuries.
How to Enjoy Mulberries:
The mulberry season can be very short. So, enjoy eating them fresh from the tree while you can. They make wonderful toppings for cakes, pies and parfaits. To extend your enjoyment you’ll have to preserve them. They can be made into jams alone or mixed with other berries. They could also be dried in a dehydrator.
Here are two ways I like to preserve mulberries.
Freeze:
- Rinse the berries by floating them in a bowl of water.
- Drain and dry them gently with a towel.
- Lay them flat on a baking sheet in one layer.
- Put the tray in the freezer overnight or until they are solidly frozen.
- Pour the individually frozen berries in a freezer bag.
- They can be stored for 6 months.
Vinegars:
- Rinse the berries by floating them in a bowl of water.
- Pour ¼ cup of berries into a tall wide mouth jar.
- Fill the jar with 1 cup of apple cider vinegar.
- Allow mixture to steep for 2 weeks shaking it daily.
- Drain the liquid.
- Use liquid in salad dressing or marinades.
I hope you are enjoying your mulberry days!
Written by,
Audie Odum-Stellato
Nutritionist, Herbalist,
Holistic Practitioner, Fitness Instructor
Resources:
Benefits of berry consumption: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5187535/
Mulberry leaf tea benefits: https://www.livestrong.com/article/265868-what-are-the-health-benefits-of-mulberry-leaf-tea/
Varieties of mulberries: http://seattlegardenfruit.blogspot.com/2016/06/mulberry-varieties.html
Mulberry folklore: https://shirleytwofeathers.com/The_Blog/magickal-ingredients/mulberry-magick-and-lore/
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