They are called gooseberries when they’re fresh and golden berries (or sometimes Incan Berries) when they’re dried. I like them for five reasons:
1. They match my walls.
2. The dried version is so tangy-sweet that it is a total health party in my mouth.
3. They kind of look like shriveled testicles.
4. They are an amazing super-powered super fruit.
5. They’re like exotic raisins.
Let’s focus on number 3 for a minute here. Now this is not a totally random association. See, I love the way these taste when they are dried. They are a whole other mouthful when fresh. I promise you, I was not the first to make this association, I won’t be the last and because this is Making Love In The Kitchen, I am going to go there: fresh gooseberries taste like spooge… uh… or so I’ve been told.
Moving right along to points 1, 2, 4 and 5.
1. See! That would be my golden berry coloured wall!
2. Well 2 sort of speaks for itself. You have to taste them to get this one.
4. The health benefits are amazing:
- Traditionally golden berries have been used to help ailments including, asthma, edema, optic nerve disorders, throat afflictions, intestinal parasites, and amoebic dysentery.And who doesn’t like a tasty cure for amoebic dysentery!
- A superior source of bioflavanoids (sometimes called vitamin P- but I think that’s silly).
- They rich in pectin which is a fantabulous form of soluble fibre that helps move poop out while nourishing the cells of the intestinal tract
- About a gazillion studies on bioflavonoids have shown that they possess antiviral, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, antihistamine and antioxidant activities. This means they could basically help remedy any ailment in the body. (Psst- did you see that bit about anti-viral? Hello H1N1)
- They are high in phosphorous, vitamins A, C, B1, B2, B6 and B12.
- They are also extremely high in protein (16%) for a fruit.
5. This makes you look and feel exotic when you eat them so that’s kinda fun.
I enjoy my golden berries blended into smoothies (of course) or I’ll soak about half a dozen and plop them into my oatmeal. I am sure you are getting by now that I put absolutely everything into my smoothies and oatmeal. Just such an easy way to get oodles of powerful foods.
My very favourite way to eat these goodies is to drop them into a cup of hot green tea. By the time I am done my tea, they are all rehydrated, have lent some of their flavour to the tea and are just amazing flavour explosions.
This is why my berries are made of gold.
Now if you want to buy some, might I recommend this amazing supplier of all great things raw and healthy.
I loovveee Gooseberries… I had one for the first time last year. They seem so magical.
Good timing seeing as I just came down with a virus.
I need to give those another try, since I wasn’t too keen on the flavor the first time I tried them.
Oh good, spooge. You’ve made them sound so appealing!!
Have you read the book Wetlands? Might be a fun choice for you
Meghan – I came to love gooseberries a few years back when they became an avante-garde garnish on all wedding desserts. Oh how I love the golden papery leaves which surround them like a heart. I would always ask table-mates for their berries claiming “you won’t like it” and savoring in their woody, bitter, even sometimes-soapy flavour. But – spooge-y? Seriously – even I wouldn’t assign that to this beloved fruit! Maybe I’ve been tasting different spooge. Wait! I’m a Jewish girl – we don’t do that!
Anyway – I have yet to try the dehydrated variety but I am pumped to make a green tea sensation with them.
BTW – It’s high time you took your travelling blog show for a spring-time hike out here in sunny Alberta. Waterton Lakes National Park is a jewel, filled with wildflowers and delcious alpine berries.
Oh – and in response to all things biflavonoid-
Flavin.
Who knew?? I never made the connection between “Andean/Incan/Golden berries” and the gooseberries that grow in my grammy’s backyard! (she lives in New Brunswick)
But let me tell you, raw (and ripe), they most certainly do NOT taste like spooge! They are delicious, sweet, and tart, almost like a crisp red grape. Maybe it’s a different variety though because the ones at my grammy’s are reddish, not golden.
Speaking of soluble fibre, what’s your opinion on isolated inulin powder (from chicory) for good digestion?…A simple Yea or Nay would do
Ps. A reason why you LIKE these berries is because they look like shriveled testicles??? Meeeghaaan!
I’ve had these dried before and didn’t like them very much. But I did make myself eat them all because of the health benefits. Thanks for all the info! Love your bed spread!!
Do ya think we have different gooseberries here in the lower 48? Cuz ours are more purplish-red in color and do not (repeat, do not) taste like spooge. Kinda got a sweet-tart thing going on, like a cross between a pineapple and a strawberry. Very yumilicious!
My grandmother in England has got a gooseberry tree and she makes the most delicious jam I have ever eaten from them! now that I know how beneficial it is .. I may request her to send me over a few …
Yes, I did read the whole thing through, and yes you are a nut.
Still haven’t tried gooseberries though, haven’t even seen them in the stores. I’ll have to be on the lookout!
[...] wonders of gooseberries. [Making Love in the [...]
Wow great blog! I look forward to reading more. I would love to try the fresh version of these berries.
I love how often testicles and poop are mentioned on your blog.
love them too! sooo tangy!
I find they digest better soaked. otherwise i have…um, goldenberry-scented toots.
Finally reading this after I read the headline last week. Earlier in the day before reading the headline I looked at my bag of gooseberries and pondered what to do with them. I remembered that it took you awhile to acquire a taste for goji berries and considered that I’ve liked goji berries from the start but not gooseberries. They’re too tart for me.
So, after I thought of you in relation to gooseberries and goji berries (that same day) you went and did a post about gooseberries. It’s as if you were reading my mind.
[...] to go super strict Agave, coconut sugar or even a little stevia could work too), the high protein golden berry, some cacao nibs and what did I come out [...]
[...] Goldenberries [...]
[...] the best. Do we want strawberries or the powerhouse of blueberries? Do we go with the super Goji or Golden Berry? Do you want to know what the best berry is? Do you really want to know what the very best berry [...]
yay on the inulin but best with the whole food. and i just like to put things into posts to make sure everyone is reading through
good for you!