Currants

Ribes rubrum (red currant) and Ribes nigrum (black currant) are deciduous shrubs of the Grossulariaceae family, native to the temperate zone of Eurasia. Botanically, they are characterized by palmate lobed leaves and fruits arranged in drooping clusters. While R. nigrum has aromatic glands on its leaves that emit a specific scent, R. rubrum has no distinctive aroma. The fruit is a juicy, multi-seeded berry. Nutritionally, both species are rich in fiber, potassium, and organic acids (especially citric acid), but R. nigrum stands out for its extremely high vitamin C content (often 3 to 4 times that of red currants). The phytochemical profile of black currants is superior due to the massive concentration of anthocyanins (especially delphinidin and cyanidin), which give them their dark color and strong antioxidant capacity, while red currants contain fewer phenols.