The rubicund Raspberry

The delicate raspberry, popular as the ‘King of berries’, is a member of the rose family. The raspberry is actually a collection of many small juicy fruits called drupelets, each with its own seed covered in red skin and flesh, which together form a helmet-shaped cluster around a small stem. 

The raspberry is believed to have originated in Turkey, where natives gathered it from vines growing at the foothills of Mount Ida in the 1st century B.C. The credit for distributing the raspberry throughout Europe goes to the Romans. By the Middle Ages, wild raspberries were widely known and used as a food, as well as for medicinal purposes. Early settlers brought the fruit to America in the 17th and 18th centuries. 
The raspberry grows on small, deciduous plants with slightly prickly stems (known as canes). The leaf is oval with saw-like edges and a white downy underside. The roots can live for up to 10 years. During the first year of growth, a cane produces no fruit. In its second year, it flowers, produces berries, and dies before producing new canes. The berries are cylinder-shaped, with a sweet fragrance and flavour. Usually deep red, raspberries can also be black, purple, orange or yellow in colour. One raspberry is 1.5 cm to 2 cm long, weighs about 4 grams, and is made up of more than 100 drupelets. 
Raspberries can be eaten as they are, or added to porridge or breakfast cereals, or mixed with honey to make a topping for pancakes. They are also used to make delicious ice cream, fruit salad, jam, jelly, and sherbets. 
Apart from being a mouth-watering snack, the raspberry is also a powerhouse of nutrition. It is rich in dietary fibre and an excellent source of manganese and vitamin C. A significant source of ellagic acid, a compound that slows the growth of cancer cells, the raspberry also contains anti-oxidants, which retard the effects of aging, prevent cancer and may reduce the risk of heart disease. Over the centuries, the raspberry plant has been prized for its many medicinal qualities. Raspberry vinegars were a popular traditional remedy for sore throats and coughs. The juice from the berries has been used in folk medicine as a remedy for fevers, childhood illnesses and cystitis.