If you’re already familiar with mulberries, then you already know that they’re irresistible – that once you’ve tasted them, you can no longer do without these sweet, sweet fruits. (Dare we say it – more delicious than cherries?) Mulberries are a delicacy, available from May to August. You can use them for risottos and salads or even tiramisù! And then there’s the mulberry jam…
Origins of the mulberry plant
Mulberries belong to the Moraceae family and they are native to Asia, where they were used for silkworm breeding. The most common types are white and black mulberries (named after the color of the fruit). Less frequent is the red mulberry, though it is more widespread in North America. Mulberry plants feature wide majestic foliage, which grow in Italy as well, especially in the southern regions.
Their fruits are rich in beneficial properties for the body because they contain a high content of iron and potassium, manganese and magnesium, as well as vitamins in the C, K, and B groups. They are also an important source of polyphenols – antioxidants that are useful in the prevention of cellular aging diseases, degenerative diseases of the nervous system, diabetes, and cancer.
So, here’s how to make a good (in every sense) jam with mulberries!
The Recipe: Mulberry Jam
Ingredients:
2 lbs black mulberries
Juice of 1 lemon
1 lb brown sugar
1/2 red apple with the peel
Method:
Add the cleaned mulberries (cut in half), the sugar, the lemon juice and the apple with its peel still on (chopped into pieces) to a pot. Leave the pot with all its ingredients in the fridge for two to three hours. Then remove the apple peel and bring the pot to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
After 30 minutes, blend everything using an immersion blender and put it back on the heat. Cook again until the jam has reached the right consistency. Then pour the jam into sterilized jars and boil them in water for about 10 minutes.
Remove jars from the water and turn them upside down while still hot, to form a vacuum. Your jam is ready!
For some more tips on making a tasty mulberry jam, check out our photo tutorial above!