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Make sure you take a sufficient selection of storage boxes when you go out looking for them. Don't rely on plastic carrier bags, as the berries could get bruised and, in my experience, the bags snag on the blackberry bushes – and a hole in your bag means disaster! Take smaller boxes for the kids, so they can each pick and store their own berries.
Benefits of blackberry picking
As well as being a fun activity that all the family can enjoy, wild blackberry picking is a good way to save money when it comes to providing tasty food. Extremely versatile, they can be made into plenty of different dishes. When you've picked them wild, blackberries are free of charge, allowing you to make homemade luxurious treats for next to nothing.
Eating blackberries also brings multiple health benefits. Jam packed full of vitamin C: one cup of uncooked blackberries contains 30.2 milligrams of vitamin C. You can eat them raw, as long as you wash them first in clean, cold water.
Blackberries are high in fibre, which is something that a lot of people lack in their regular diet; a good source of vitamin K, which strengthens the bones; and they contain manganese, which is a mineral that aids healthy bone development and improves the body's immune system.
According to scientific research, they help support oral health, as they have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial abilities that can protect against some types of bacteria.
Blackberry folklore
According to ancient folklore, when St Michael cast the devil out from Heaven, he landed on a bramble bush and cursed it. As a result, blackberries are unpalatable after 29th September, St Michael's Day. Folklore demands they should not be picked after this date.
It was said that during the American Civil War, many of the soldiers suffered from dysentery and blackberry tea was used to cure it. Several ceasefires were called so the troops could pick more blackberries to make medicinal tea. Union and Confederate soldiers reportedly picked blackberries at the same time, from the same bushes.
What are some good blackberry recipes?
Once you've picked your blackberries, unless you're using them for cooking the same day, keep them fresh in food storage boxes in the fridge until you're ready to bake.
So, what tantalisingly tasty treats can you make with your bounty?
- Blackberry and lemon fool: this dessert takes about ten minutes to prepare. Put 200g of blackberries in a pan with 2 tbsp icing sugar, lemon zest and the juice of half a lemon. Simmer until it's syrup-like and leave to chill for a few hours in the fridge.Whip 250 ml of double cream with 1 tbsp icing sugar and swirl the blackberry sauce through it. Serve cold in glasses, with a topping of extra sauce and fresh blackberries. It really is that simple!
- Apple and blackberry jam: you'll need 500g Bramley apples, peeled and cut into 2 cm pieces; 500g of fresh blackberries; 1 kg granulated sugar and one lemon. Place the apples in a pan with the juice of the lemon and 250 ml of water. Bring it to the boil and then simmer for five to eight minutes until soft.Add the sugar and blackberries and stir well at a low heat until the sugar dissolves. Simmer on a medium heat for 30-35 minutes until the jam is at the setting stage. Use a funnel to pour the jam into sterilised jars. Seal the lids once it's cold. Jars of jam will keep fresh in the fridge for six months.
- Pear and blackberry crumble: heat oven to 190°C (gas mark 5). Place 700g of peeled and cubed pears in a pan, add 100g of golden granulated sugar and cook at medium heat for about ten minutes, until the fruit begins to soften. Add 250g of blackberries and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat and spoon the mixture into four small ovenproof ramekins.Rub together 200g of plain flour, 100g of unsalted butter and a pinch of salt in a large bowl to the consistency of coarse breadcrumbs. Add 85g of shelled roughly chopped pistachios and 100g of demerara sugar, stirring to combine. Sprinkle the crumble over the cooked fruit. Bake in the small ramekins for 20-25 minutes, until golden. Serve warm with ice cream or cream to taste.
- Blackberry gin: always a favourite for the adults for those late summer garden parties, blackberry gin is very easy to make. You'll need 350g of fresh blackberries, 150g of sugar and a 700 ml bottle of gin. Tip the blackberries and sugar into a 1.5-litre jar. Pour in the gin, seal the jar and swirl the mixture around until the sugar dissolves. Store it in a cool, dark place, turning the jar once a day.After two to three weeks, strain the blackberry gin through a sieve and pour it into bottles. The gin will be drinkable for up to one year, so label the bottles with the date it was made. Don't waste the gin-infused blackberries - use them in a cocktail, or to make a trifle.
What can you do with leftover blackberries?
Blackberries will freeze well, so if you've picked too many to use all in one go, simply pop them in freezer-safe containers and use them when needed. In winter, you can use them in warming crumbles and pies.
Fruit can be kept frozen for around eight months. Keep the temperature constant and once they have defrosted, don't refreeze them.