From June, we can all start to enjoy British raspberries at their very best. The supermarket shelves will once again be packed with one of the nations favourite berries, accompanying picnics, packed lunches and scrumptious deserts.
Raspberries have only been cultivated in Britain since the seventeenth century; before that they were mostly collected from the wild. The Romans ate large quantities as they believed the fruit to have beneficial medical qualities even then. They remained popular into the Victorian era and cordials and vinegar were made from the fruit. The popularity of raspberries meant that by the end of the nineteenth century there were numerous varieties to choose from.
Today the British raspberry season runs from June to October. One of the most well known raspberry varieties is Glen Ample, with its excellent flavour, colour and fragrance. Tulameen is available to enjoy throughout the warmer summer months and Driscoll Maravilla is a variety that crops all season from late June to late autumn. Glen Fyne a Scottish variety has a sweet and aromatic flavour which is consistent throughout the season.
One of the most popular berries, raspberries can be enjoyed straight from the punnet, in hundreds of wonderful recipes and are the perfect low fat snack. Raspberries are great at increasing energy levels because of their high levels of natural sugars, so why not wake yourself up and enjoy a handful of British raspberries this summer.
