Description
Indulge in the sweet-tart flavour of our raspberries, bursting with freshness and perfect for snacking, adding to salads, baking into pies or muffins, or blending into smoothies for a delicious treat. Available in our Local Farm Shop in Bellaghy, Mid Ulster Area.
🍓 Raspberries are vibrant, juicy fruits known for their sweet-tart flavor and delicate texture. Despite being commonly called berries, they’re technically aggregate fruits, formed from clusters of tiny drupelets—each containing a seed—that fuse together around a central core.
🌿 Botanical & Physical Traits
- Belong to the genus Rubus in the rose family (Rosaceae)
- Perennial plants with woody stems called canes
- Canes typically live for two years and may have prickles or be smooth
- Leaves are compound with toothed leaflets; undersides are often white or gray and hairy
- Flowers are white to pink with five petals
- Fruits come in red, black, purple, golden yellow, and even amber hues
🍽️ Flavor & Culinary Uses
- Taste: Bright, tangy, and sweet with earthy undertones
- Commonly eaten fresh, often with cream or ice cream
- Used in jams, jellies, pastries, sauces, and liqueurs
- Excellent in salads, desserts, smoothies, and teas
🌱 Cultivation & Growth
- Thrive in cool, temperate climates with well-drained soil
- Prefer full sun and slightly acidic soil (pH 5.5–6.5)
- Red varieties are propagated by root suckers; black and purple by tip layering
- Require trellising or staking to manage growth and support fruit weight
đź’Ş Nutritional Highlights
- Rich in vitamin C, fiber, iron, and antioxidants
- Low in calories and high in anti-inflammatory compounds
🧚 Folklore Fun
Greek mythology says raspberries were originally white until the nymph Ida pricked her finger while picking them for baby Zeus—her blood stained the berries red, giving rise to their name Rubus idaeus, meaning “belonging to Ida.”
