Red berries: cooling, refreshing flavors for warm summer days

(Photo: Pixabay)

The taste of red berries is determined by the sweet-sour taste, in the case of blueberries and black currants, it is complemented by the bitter, astringent taste. Raspberries are also special from this point of view, because they can hardly be replaced by other fruits due to their unique, harmonious taste, aroma and characteristic properties. The characteristic sweet-sour taste of berries can only be truly enjoyed when the fruits are perfectly ripe.

It’s worth paying attention when buying!

When buying berries, it is worth paying extra attention to choose whole and healthy berries. Moreover, in the case of blueberries, it is also important that the whitish-gray waxy protective layer on the grains is uniform. It is recommended to avoid fruits that are dull in color, too soft, have a slimy surface, or may be wet. Damaged or moldy berries must be removed before storage to prevent other berries from spoiling. They will keep for 2-3 days in the refrigerator. These fruits should only be washed immediately before consumption, otherwise they can easily mold.

Berries are good for everything!

Of course, berries are the tastiest when eaten fresh and thus contain the most nutrients, but their preparation options are also very diverse: cold fruit juice, jam, various cakes, syrup, custard, milkshake or a refreshing smoothie. So, they can be used in everything that has a sweet flavor and a little sour contrast goes well with them. “Anthocyanin is the coloring matter and plant-active compound (phytonutrient) of red-purple berries, which has a good effect on our cardiovascular system and also has a tumor-preventing effect.” – said Lili Fülöp, dietitian of the European Fresh Team program. He added that by frequent, seasonal consumption of blackberries, raspberries or cherries, we can bring a large amount of phytonutrients into our bodies, even with a delicious galette, which is a very easy-to-make cake and can be eaten as a snack.

Vegetable and Fruit Day on June 17

With the arrival of the domestic fruit season, the Fruit and Vegetable Day tries to encourage everyone to regularly eat fresh vegetables and fruit, preferably at every meal, since from then on, an abundant supply of fresh, tasty domestically grown fruits will be available in the markets and shops. It is definitely worth choosing seasonal, domestic products, because they are picked when they are the most delicious and of the best quality, they are grown locally, they do not travel hundreds or thousands of kilometers, and by purchasing them we can support local producers.

#Hero of Vegetables and Fruits of Hungary 2023

The Vegetable and Fruit Day has another traditional element: the announcement of the results of the Hungarian Vegetable and Fruit Hero competition. The NAK and its educational program, the European Fresh Team, announced the Vegetable-Fruit Hero competition at the beginning of April, in order to recognize the outstanding performance of people who are committed to popularizing the consumption of vegetables and fruits in our country, especially among children. The application closed on June 7, and among the submitted applications, the NAK jury chose Csaba Petrilla, a history-geography teacher, as the 2023 Hero of Hungary’s Fruit and Vegetables. As part of the Green Community program of the district’s Gloriett Sports School Primary School, he created a vegetable garden and an orchard with the children in the school yard, which they take care of together. In addition to the honorary title, thanks to the National Chamber of Agrarian Economy, the winner and the students also receive 100 kilograms of vegetables and fruits.

*(Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) is 4900 per 100 grams
** One hundred grams of blackberries increases the antioxidant content of the blood from 10 percent to 25 percent, according to research by the American Department of Agriculture.