In spring, raspberries charm with their beautiful, white-green flowers. In summer and autumn, the sweet, fruity and delicious taste of their fruits enriches the local cuisine.
Along with strawberries, currants and blueberries, it is one of the favourites among berry lovers. The small, juicy fruit can not only be preserved in a variety of ways, it also tastes great fresh with a wide range of foods and enriches your healthy breakfast.
Interesting and informative facts about raspberries
In botany, the raspberry is known by the scientific name Rubus idaeus. Raspberries belong to the rose family (Rosaceae) and to the stone fruit family. The raspberry bush can reach a height of up to 2 metres. It has a flat root system.
The raspberry has alternate and pinnate leaves in a strong green colour. The white-green flowers are arranged in racemes, with upright petals and white stamens. The plant species is hermaphroditic and relies on cross-pollination by bees or other insects to produce fruit.
Raspberries usually have red fruit. In special varieties, they can also be yellow or black. The tasty, juicy berry has a sweet and fruity flavour.
Berries – Click here for all you need to know about fruits
Where does the raspberry come from and where does it grow?
The wild raspberry comes from Central and Northern Europe and is also widespread in Western Siberia. It can be found in forest clearings and in mountainous regions above the tree line. It thrives in soil with acidic to alkaline pH values and good soil drainage. It grows in sunny to semi-shaded locations with high humidity. It does particularly well in areas with cool summer temperatures.
When do raspberries bloom?
There are two different types of raspberry: the summer raspberry and the autumn raspberry. Both varieties flower in May and June. The first fruits of the summer raspberry bush are already ripe in June. The first fruits of the autumn raspberry ripen in August. They can be harvested until the first frost.
In addition, the autumn variety offers the possibility of harvesting fruit twice a year. To do this, the spent canes are not cut close to the ground, but only the upper parts of the annual shoots. This makes a spring and autumn harvest possible in the following year.
How healthy are raspberries?
Healthy raspberries contain lots of fibre, which is good for the gastrointestinal tract. It aids digestion and protects the intestinal flora. The secondary plant substances such as flavonoids and colourings have an antioxidant effect.
They regulate cell metabolism and stabilise the acid-base balance. The high vitamin C and B complex content strengthens the immune system, ensures beautiful skin, as well as healthy hair and nails.
Raspberries contain many valuable minerals such as iron, calcium, potassium, manganese and magnesium. They help prevent rheumatism and arthritis, ensure healthy bones and muscles, and promote the formation of haemoglobin, the blood pigment.
In addition, raspberries are about 85% water and therefore very low in calories. They are ideal for your healthy muesli or as an addition to your oatmeal.
Berries are a good source of polyphenols, especially anthocyanins, micronutrients and dietary fibres. In epidemiological and clinical studies, these ingredients have been linked to improved cardiovascular risk profiles.
Human intervention studies with aronia berries, cranberries, bilberries, and strawberries (either fresh or as juice or freeze-dried) or purified anthocyanin extracts have demonstrated significant improvements in LDL oxidation, lipid peroxidation, total plasma antioxidant capacity, dyslipidaemia, and glucose metabolism. 1
benefits were seen in healthy subjects and in individuals with existing metabolic risk factors. Mechanisms underlying these beneficial effects presumably include upregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, decreased activity of carbohydrate digestive enzymes, decreased oxidative stress, and inhibition of inflammatory gene expression and macrophage foam cell formation.
Although limited, these data support the recommendation of berries as an essential fruit group in a heart-healthy diet.
Nutrients in raspberries per 100 g
Raspberries contain the following nutrients per 100 g:
- 0.3 g fat
- 1.3 g protein
- 4.8 g carbohydrates
- 4.7 g dietary fibre
- 200 mg potassium
- 40 mg calcium
- 30 mg magnesium
- 1 mg iron
- 25 mg vitamin C
- 0.03 mg vitamin B1
- 0.07 mg vitamin B2
- 0.08 mg vitamin B6
Nutritional information – sugar content in raspberries
The following table shows the energy content and the amounts of simple sugars and disaccharides per 100 g of raspberries.
| Energy (kcal) | Glucose (g) | Fructose (g) | Sucrose (g) | Total sugar (g) | |
| Raspberry raw | 34 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 1 | 4.8 |
| Forest Raspberry raw | 34 | 1.8 | 2 | 1 | 4.8 |
| Raspberry cooked | 34 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 1 | 4.8 |
| Raspberry Fruit Juice | 32 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 7.6 |
| Raspberry Fruit Nectar | 54 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 10.1 | 3 |
| Raspberry Jam | 254 | 16.5 | 13.8 | 20.9 | 55.2 |
| Raspberry tinned | 72 | 6.5 | 6.7 | 2.8 | 16 |
| Raspberry Jelly | 254 | 18.8 | 18.2 | 23.8 | 65.1 |
What is the best way to store raspberries?
If raspberries are not eaten immediately, they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. Cardboard plates are suitable for storage, on which the dry fruits are placed next to each other. You should sort out berries with bruises or signs of rot. Other preservation options include making jam, compote or juice, or freezing them whole or as a puree.
Preparations: raspberries taste best
You can use raspberries in many different ways in the kitchen, either fresh or frozen. They are particularly tasty and healthy in combination with oat flakes, muesli or as a crunchy. Verival's products offer a wide range of options, are easy to prepare and very digestible.
Porridge with raspberries as a hot meal
Whether you use Verival wholegrain flakes or oat flakes, combined with raspberries they provide a fruity and delicious meal. The firm fruit of the raspberry provides an extraordinary flavour contrast to the Verival Bircher porridge with crunchy almonds, apples and the sweetness of figs and dates.
Raspberries not only look appetising as a topping, they also contain many valuable nutrients. You can simply mix the wide range of Verival muesli and crunchy products with fresh milk, yoghurt or quark. Add the fresh raspberries with a tablespoon of honey and your well-balanced breakfast is ready. It not only satisfies you for a long period of time, but also gives you vitality and energy for the day.
As an alternative for the winter months, Verival offers exceptional muesli mixes and crunchy creations with high-quality, dried, organic berries such as: cranberries, blackberries, raspberries and many more.
What should I look for when buying raspberries?
Raspberries are available fresh at the market from June to September. It is advisable to buy regional produce that has been transported short distances. You can recognise fresh fruit by its bright red colour and sweet aroma. In addition, the berries should be firm and not bruised.
How can I plant raspberries at home?
It is not difficult to plant raspberries in your own garden. Raspberry bushes are planted in spring at a distance of 30-40 cm. The planting hole should be twice the size of the root ball. Since raspberries spread underground through their network of roots, the ribosomes, you should consider a root barrier.
Raspberries are very undemanding and don't need any special soil conditions. They are only sensitive to waterlogging. Therefore, you should loosen your soil and ensure good water drainage. This will help you to prevent root rot, a disease of raspberries. Raspberries are also easy to care for.
Autumn raspberries are pruned back completely after harvesting. With summer raspberries, only the brown and woody canes are pruned back.
Fact: Autumn Bliss is a particularly high-yielding variety with very large and aromatic fruits.
Discover the porridge range from Verival now
- Basu A, Rhone M, Lyons TJ. Berries: emerging impact on cardiovascular health. Nutrition Reviews . Published online March 2010:168-177. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00273.x
