Elderberries

Elderberries

These berries come from the mulberry tree. The Moraceae family. Long before our calendar, the tree was already part of the food chain of people in China. The tree grows mainly in subtropical regions, such as those represented in Asia, Africa, and South America. The berries are fresh but have a short shelf life. Therefore, they are dried in the sun. And are thus longer lasting.

The mulberry tree is known as the tree of the silkworm. The leaves of the tree are the food of the silkworm. Without these leaves, there is no silkworm. The fruits are our food. Although the fresh fruit is hardly known in the Netherlands, the dried fruit is well-known. There are more than 100 species of mulberries. The most well-known are white, red, and black. As for sweetness, they differ slightly from each other, but all are delicious. While the red and black ones are “as sweet as honey”, the white one is slightly less sweet!

Once, even long ago, the mulberries and silkworms were smuggled from China and spread by conquerors over large parts of the world. The mulberry is seed-bearing and suitable for obtaining new plantings. Mulberry trees are beautiful decorative trees that, due to their root system, do not grow straight up but tend to grow crooked and can even grow half-lying down. There are also mulberry trees in the Netherlands that adorn gardens and parks. Although they are not the specific Chinese species, they are also fruit-bearing. In the Netherlands, it is not possible to use the tree as food for the silkworm. That is climatologically impossible. Too cold!

The tree can be harvested multiple times a year. The white fruit usually comes from young trees and the red and black from older trees. Mulberries or moerbeibessen resemble long, narrow blackberries. The story goes that a thief of the berries can be recognized by their hands! The color that the berries release when picked is so strong that it takes a long time for the hands to return to their normal color. In wise, holy books, the mulberry tree is mentioned as a lovely fruit-bearing tree that serves needy stomachs!

Nutrients

Were it not that in Chinese medicine the mulberry tree from crown to roots was processed into medicine with each part having its specific healing power, today the berry is also elevated to superfood! The high degree of flavor makes the berry very suitable to combine with other berries that taste bad. Especially in natural healing, that is a pleasant added bonus.

It’s no wonder that the mulberry is attributed the term superfood when you consider what this little fruit has to offer. The entire range of good and healthy macro and micro nutrients can be found in this small fruit. Just name them! Vitamins and minerals, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates (the good kind, of course). All the essential properties for a healthy body!

If you eat them as a snack, you’ll quickly feel full and healthy due to the present proteins and fibers, and as a result, you’ll be less likely to eat something unhealthy. If you have constipation, regularly take a handful of mulberries, and for sore throats and aphthous ulcers, painful small sores in the mouth, a strong mulberry infusion makes a pleasant mouthwash that can also be swallowed.

Elderberries are perfect for making healthy bars! For breakfast, snack, energy boost, or whenever. It’s because they’re a bit chewy and that’s a nice bite. Healthy bars are easy to make. Mix together various seeds and chopped dried and unsweetened fruit of your choice, and if needed, some finely chopped nuts, along with some coconut oil to form a smooth mass. Press the mass into a flat dish lined with baking paper and refrigerate for a small hour. Then it’s a matter of dividing! It’s up to you how big the bars should be! Enjoy!

No desire to buy all the ingredients for these healthy bars, then choose our balanced mixes where the mulberry makes up a rich part.

Little to no information is known about allergies or intolerance to these berries. It’s even said that consuming large quantities of these pearls can do no harm. However, a note of caution: for people who want to lose weight, it’s recommended to halve the large quantities or reduce them to just a few spoonfuls!

In the context where gluten-free and lactose-free are mentioned, the mulberry berry is as free as a bird in the air! Not a single uncomfortable “freedom” can be attributed to the mulberry berry.

Would you put the mulberry berries on four pillars and name them, then there are three healthy, healthy and healthy! The fourth pillar is just a pillar but can harbor a piece of doubt in its structure. Of course and naturally, it is advisable for those who doubt to consult an expert before consumption.

To vary

Although mulberries may not be the most attractive-looking fruits, they are certainly decorative. They don’t look out of place as a rich topping on (honey) cake with a dollop of whipped cream. In a salad, they are striking “little beets” and certainly stand out against the white creamy background thanks to the yogurt. The berry is indispensable in cookies and jams.

Through the drying process, the taste of the mulberry becomes even sweeter, honey-like. And the skin becomes crispy through drying. Yet, mulberries also have a soft bite. Inside, they are just as soft as figs and raisins.

Certainly, the striking tasty bites are created by mixing with other dried fruits and nuts. The mulberry is an indispensable product in our mixes for this very reason. You’ll find them in our hand-balanced paleo mix, super power mix, and super food mix. The latter contains no nuts and is composed only of dried fruit with seeds.

Not to be misunderstood, a scale of mulberries is a healthy treat at a party and if your preference goes out to a sweet, instead of a savory, variation at a drinks party, then the choice for the mulberry is an excellent snack.

Assortment

Our white loose mulberries come from Turkey and are available from 250 grams.

Blackberries are pre-packaged from the Your Organic Nature brand, 250 grams.

The delicious mixes of paleo, super food, and super power are also available from 250 grams. We eat some every day! We’re almost certain! Try them! You’ll find them just as delicious as we do!