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On Jan 2, 2007, at 7:53 PM, Thomas Olenio wrote:

> It was written;
>
> It's interesting that you mention black currants, because I didn't  
> plant
> any of those (except for the native species, the clove or buffalo
> currant) due to the almost universal description that they would not
> appeal to "American tastes." When it comes to food, I eat - and I  
> enjoy
> - just about anything, but there's no sense in planting fruit  
> that's not
> especially tasty when there's so much fruit that IS.
>
> =====
> Hello,
> . . .
> You will find Crandall, Clove, and Buffalo currant similar in taste  
> to red
> currants.  These varieties do not have the "spiciness" of true black
> currants.
>
> You can buy black currant flavored tea bags in most large markets.   
> If you
> want to experience the spiciness of black currants you will find it  
> in these
> teas.


Bill,

I don't think you will find that Crandall Currants taste like red  
currants.  I grow both, and they are very different.  The Crandall  
Currants are less tart, much less juicy, and have a strong "fruity"  
flavor that the red currants lack.  I like sour food, and I prefer  
the red currants, but the Crandalls are probably more "accessible".   
They are also very nice with apples in a pie, if you ever decide to  
get adventuresome.

Black currants are better (to me) cooked, but cooking them couldn't  
be easier.  You can take a handful, mash them with some sugar in a  
ceramic ramekin or a wide/shallow mug, and nuke them in the microwave  
for a few seconds, until they are a little bubbly.  You now have  
fresh black currant jam, which is truly delicious.  If you want to  
find out what they taste like, see if you can fund some black currant  
concentrate (like Ribena).

Other possibilities for small amounts of land with less-than-full sun  
include blueberries and alpine strawberries.  I've taken to tucking  
individual alpine strawberry plants here and there between rocks and  
near walkways.  I don't exactly get a "crop", but all summer long,  
when I am in the garden, I find a strawberry or two lurking under the  
leaves.  They are wonderful popped into your mouth in the back yard  
with no preparation at all.  They are best if you wait until they are  
very ripe.  Blueberries require more of a commitment (of space,  
weeding, irrigation) and produce better with full sun, but the bushes  
are small and again, it is very nice to walk by and just pop some  
berries into your mouth.

Ginda