56-469: Ribena ( / r aɪ ˈ b iː n ə / rye- BEE -nə ) is a brand of blackcurrant -based soft drink (both uncarbonated and carbonated), and fruit drink concentrate designed to be mixed with water. It is available in bottles, cans and multi-packs. Originally of English origin, it was produced by the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) until 2013, when the brand was sold to Japanese beverage conglomerate Suntory . The brand originally had
112-479: A Kir Royal . In the UK, a blackcurrant squash may be mixed with beer or alcoholic cider to make drinks including "cider and black", "lager and black", or " snakebite and black". In Russia, blackcurrant leaves may be used for flavoring tea or preserves , such as salted cucumbers, and berries for home winemaking. Sweetened vodka may also be infused with blackcurrant leaves making a deep greenish-yellow beverage with
168-594: A pectinase enzyme process; Ribena was developed by biochemist Audrey Green and Vernon Charley, a scientist at the University of Bristol in 1933. The blackcurrant variety was found to contain high levels of vitamin C . The drink was named Ribena (from the botanical name of the blackcurrant, Ribes nigrum ), by Mr S. M. Lennox of Bristol in 1938. During the Second World War , other fruits rich in vitamin C, like oranges , became very difficult to obtain in
224-681: A black currant breeding program in British Columbia, Canada, 'Blackcomb' and 'Tahsis', were selected for their immunity to white pine blister rust and their frost tolerance. Raw blackcurrants are 82% water, 15% carbohydrates , 1% protein and 0.4% fat (table). Per 100 g serving providing 63 kilocalories , the raw fruit has high vitamin C content (218% of the Daily Value , DV) and moderate levels of iron and manganese (12% DV each). Other nutrients are present in negligible amounts (less than 10% DV, table). Blackcurrant seed oil
280-537: A common ingredient of rødgrød , a popular kissel -like dessert in North German and Danish cuisines . Blackcurrants are also used in savoury cooking. Their astringency creates added flavour in sauces, meats and other dishes. Blackcurrants are included in some unusual combinations of foods. They can be added to tomato and mint to make a salad. Blackcurrants may accompany roast beef, grilled lamb, duck, seafood and shellfish. Canvasback duck with blackcurrants
336-433: A garden scale, the berries should be picked when dry and ripe. Commercially, most harvesting is done mechanically by straddle harvesters. These move continually down the rows, straddling a row of bushes, shaking the branches and stripping off the fruit. The blackcurrants are placed into half tonne bins and to minimise stoppage time, some machines have cross conveyors which direct the fruit into continuously moving trailers in
392-613: A misleading manner, and claims that the drink did not encourage tooth decay should be removed from the packaging. The opinion was upheld by a hearing in the High Court. In 2003, the Food Commission in the United Kingdom criticised the sugar levels in regular Ribena as contributing to childhood obesity . In 2004, Jenny Suo and a classmate in a New Zealand secondary school conducted a science experiment to determine
448-406: A number of essential nutrients to thrive; nitrogen provides strong plant growth and stimulates the production of flower sprigs; phosphorus aids growth, the setting of fruit and crop yield; potassium promotes growth of individual shoots and increases the weight of individual fruits; magnesium is a constituent of chlorophyll and helps increase yields through interaction with potassium; calcium
504-404: A serrated margin. All parts of the plant are strongly aromatic. The flowers are produced in racemes known as "strigs" up to 8 cm (3 in) long containing 10–20 flowers, each about 8 millimetres ( 3 ⁄ 8 in) in diameter. Each flower has a hairy calyx with yellow glands, the five lobes of which are longer than the inconspicuous petals . There are five stamens surrounding
560-477: A strong reputation as a healthy product for children, stemming from its distribution to children as a vitamin C supplement during World War II by the British government. Beecham , a company that has been part of GSK since 2000, bought the brand in 1955 and developed many soft drink versions. A series of scandals in the 2000s, concerning vitamin C levels, sugar levels, and the amounts of actual fruit in some of
616-470: A tart flavor and astringent taste. The berries may be infused in a similar manner. In the Netherlands, blackcurrants are used in a carbonated soft drink named "cassis", not to be confused with the alcoholic crème de cassis liqueur. The variety by Hero has been made since 1938 with blackcurrant juice concentrate as well as a small quantity of fermented blackcurrant juice. Blackcurrant seed oil
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#1732787045534672-424: Is native to temperate parts of central and northern Europe and northern Asia, where it prefers damp fertile soils. It is widely cultivated both commercially and domestically. It is winter hardy , but cold weather at flowering time during the spring may reduce the size of the crop. Bunches of small, glossy black fruit develop along the stems in the summer and can be harvested by hand or by machine. The raw fruit
728-534: Is a gross feeder and benefits from additional nitrogen, and phosphatic and potash fertilisers should also be applied annually. A balanced artificial fertilizer can be used and a 10-10-10 granular product can be spread around the bushes at the rate of 100 to 240 grams ( 3 + 1 ⁄ 2 to 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 ounces) per plant. Weed growth can be suppressed with an organic mulch such as sawdust, bark, mushroom compost or straw, heavy plastic topped with an organic mulch cover or landscape fabric . Blackcurrant fruit
784-662: Is a serious disease transmitted by the blackcurrant gall mite ( Cecidophyopsis ribis ). It causes a decline in yield and is quite widespread in Europe but is rarely encountered on other continents. Symptoms include a modification of leaf shape in summer and swollen buds ("big bud") in winter, each housing thousands of microscopic mites. As pest control has limited effectiveness, severely infected bushes should be destroyed. All new plants purchased should be certified as virus-free. White pine blister rust ( Cronartium ribicola ) needs two alternate hosts to complete its life cycle. One host
840-447: Is an ingredient in cosmetics preparations, often in combination with vitamin E . The leaves can be extracted to yield a yellow dye , and the fruit is a source for a blue or violet dye resulting from its rich content of anthocyanins . The Food Commission The Food Commission is an independent food watchdog campaigning for safer, healthier food in the UK . The commission
896-725: Is borne primarily on one-year-old shoots. Newly planted bushes should be pruned severely, cutting all shoots back to two buds above ground level. This gives the plant a chance to get properly established before needing to put its energy into producing fruit. The general rule when pruning is to remove all weak shoots and those growing out sideways which may get weighed down when fruiting. The remaining branches should be thinned to remove old unproductive wood and to encourage new shoots. An established bush should not be allowed to become overcrowded and should have about one third of its main branches or stems removed each year. When harvesting by machine, plants with an upright growth habit are encouraged. On
952-433: Is considered a synonym. Polyphenol phytochemicals present in the fruit, seeds, and leaves are being investigated for their potential biological activities. Major anthocyanins in blackcurrant pomace – delphinidin-3- O -glucoside , delphinidin-3- O -rutinoside , cyanidin-3- O -glucoside , and cyanidin-3- O -rutinoside , which are retained in the juice concentrate – are among other polyphenols. The blackcurrant
1008-706: Is making a comeback in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, California, and Oregon. However, several statewide bans still exist as of August 2021 . Since the American federal ban curtailed currant production nationally for nearly a century, the fruit remains largely unknown in the United States and has yet to regain its previous popularity to levels enjoyed in Europe or New Zealand. Owing to its unique flavour and richness in polyphenols, dietary fibre and essential nutrients , awareness and popularity of blackcurrant
1064-438: Is native to northern Europe and Asia. Cultivation in Europe is thought to have started around the last decades of the 17th century. Blackcurrants can grow well on sandy or heavy loams, or forest soils, as long as their nutrient requirements are met. They prefer damp, fertile but not waterlogged ground and are intolerant of drought . Although the bushes are winter hardy, frosts during the flowering period may adversely affect
1120-405: Is once again growing, with a number of consumer products entering the U.S. market. The fruit of blackcurrants when eaten raw has a strong, tart flavour. It can be made into jams and jellies which set readily because of the fruit's high content of pectin and acid . For culinary use, the fruit is usually cooked with sugar to produce a purée, which can then be passed through muslin to separate
1176-525: Is particularly rich in vitamin C and polyphenols . Blackcurrants can be eaten raw but are usually cooked in sweet or savoury dishes. They are used to make jams , preserves , and syrups and are grown commercially for the juice market. The fruit is also used to make alcoholic beverages and dyes . Ribes nigrum is a medium-sized shrub, growing to 1.5 by 1.5 metres (5 by 5 feet). The leaves are alternate, simple, 3 to 5 centimetres ( 1 + 1 ⁄ 4 to 2 inches) broad and long with five palmate lobes and
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#17327870455341232-421: Is particularly suitable for cultivation of the crop. Breeding programmes are concentrating on yield, large fruit size, consistency of cropping and upright habit. In North America, there is a need for this fruit to have resistance to white pine blister rust. New cultivars such as 'Crusader', 'Coronet' and 'Consort' have been developed there by crossing R. nigrum with R. ussuriense and these show resistance to
1288-507: Is plants in the genus Ribes . On the blackcurrant, it causes the leaves to become pale and later develop tiny orange pustules and sometimes a yellow filamentous coating on some leaves. The fruit crop is little affected but the leaves fall early and growth is slowed the following year. The other host is any of the white pines , in which it causes serious disease and mortality for the North American species that have not co-evolved with
1344-423: Is required for cell division and enlargement and is particularly important for young plants and buds. An annual spring mulch of well rotted manure is ideal and poultry manure can also be used but needs prior composting with straw or other waste vegetable material. Spent mushroom compost can be used but care should be taken as it often contains lime and blackcurrants prefer slightly acidic soils. The blackcurrant
1400-496: Is rich in vitamin E and unsaturated fatty acids , including alpha-linolenic acid and gamma-linolenic acid . Decoction of the leaves, bark or roots was used as a traditional remedy. During World War II , most fruits rich in vitamin C , such as oranges , became difficult to obtain in the United Kingdom . Since blackcurrant berries are a rich source of the vitamin, and blackcurrant plants are suitable for growing in
1456-636: The New Zealand Commerce Commission brought 15 charges in the Auckland District Court against GlaxoSmithKline under the Fair Trading Act . In March 2007, GSK pleaded guilty and was fined NZ$ 217,500 (equivalent to NZ$ 285,180 in 2021) by Auckland District Court for misleading consumers, and were ordered to run a series of corrective advertisements and place a statement on its website. GSK maintained
1512-564: The Royal Horticultural Society 's Award of Garden Merit . and new varieties are being developed continually to improve frost tolerance, disease resistance, machine harvesting, fruit quality, nutritional content and fruit flavour. Varieties producing green fruit, less strongly flavoured and sweeter than typical blackcurrants, are cultivated in Finland , where they are called "greencurrants" ( viherherukka ). In Poland,
1568-404: The stigma and style and two fused carpels . The flowers open in succession from the base of the string and are mostly insect pollinated , but some pollen is distributed by the wind. A pollen grain landing on a stigma will germinate and send a slender pollen tube down the style to the ovule . In warm weather, this takes about 48 hours, but in cold weather, it may take a week, and by that time,
1624-474: The 20th century after currant farming was banned in the early 1900s, when blackcurrants, as a vector of white pine blister rust, were considered a threat to the U.S. logging industry. The federal ban on growing currants was shifted to the jurisdictions of individual states in 1966, and was lifted in New York State in 2003 through the efforts of horticulturist Greg Quinn . As a result, currant growing
1680-820: The Research Institute of Horticulture has done work on improving the blackcurrant with regard to disease and pest resistance, fruit quality, adaptations to local conditions and mechanical harvesting. Researchers have crossed various varieties and introduced inter-specific genetic material from the gooseberry ( Ribes grossularia ), the redcurrant ( Ribes rubrum ) and the flowering currant ( Ribes sanguineum ). The resulting offspring were further back-crossed to R. nigrum . Cultivars produced include 'Tisel' and 'Tiben' in 2000 and 'Ores', 'Ruben' and 'Tines' in 2005. Further cultivars 'Polares' and 'Tihope' are being tested. Since 1991, New Zealand has become an important centre for research and development, as its temperate climate
1736-539: The UK climate, the British Government encouraged their cultivation and soon the yield of the nation's crop increased significantly. From 1942 onwards, blackcurrant syrup was distributed free of charge to children under the age of two. This may have given rise to the lasting popularity of blackcurrant as a flavouring in Britain. In Britain the commercial crop is completely mechanised and about 1,400 hectares of
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1792-553: The United Kingdom, due to German submarine attacks on cargo ships. Blackcurrant cultivation was encouraged by the government, and the yield of the nation's crop increased significantly. Rose hips were also collected to make syrup. The government started the Vitamin Welfare Scheme in December 1941. This provided blackcurrant syrup and cod liver oil free of charge to children under the age of two. In April 1942,
1848-442: The adjoining row. A modern machine can pick up to fifty tonnes of blackcurrants in a day using only one operator and two tractor drivers. The bins should be stored in a cool place. Some fruit is still picked by hand for use in the fresh fruit market. Ribes plants are susceptible to several diseases and a number of insect pests. However, new varieties have been or are being developed to overcome some of these problems. Reversion
1904-424: The basis for various squashes , juice drinks, and smoothies. In Britain, 95% of the blackcurrants grown are used to manufacture Ribena (a brand of fruit juice whose name is derived from Ribes nigrum ) and similar fruit syrups and juices. Macerated blackcurrants are also the primary ingredient in the apéritif , crème de cassis , which in turn is added to white wine to produce a Kir or to champagne to make
1960-658: The blackcurrant syrup was replaced by orange juice which was then provided by the US Lend-Lease program. Production moved to the new Royal Forest Factory at Coleford in the Forest of Dean in late 1947, where production takes place today. Carters was bought out by the Beecham Group in 1955. In 1989, Beecham and SmithKline Beckman merged to form SmithKline Beecham, and in 2000, SmithKline Beecham and GlaxoWellcome merged to form GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Through
2016-504: The brand had annual worldwide sales of about £500 million. In April 2013, GSK put Ribena, along with Lucozade , up for sale to focus on its pharmaceutical business. The eventual sale to Japanese company Suntory for £1.35 billion was announced in September 2013. A sparkling version released in 2011 but discontinued in 2014. It was brought back to supermarket shelves in 2020, launching in two flavours, blackcurrant and raspberry. This
2072-467: The brands, damaged its reputation as a healthy product, and by 2013, the brand was widely regarded as a soft drink. In 2013, annual worldwide sales were around £500 million. That year, GSK sold Ribena and another consumer line, Lucozade , to the Japanese multinational Suntory for £1.35 billion (equivalent to £1.95 billion in 2023). In April 2018, in the United Kingdom, Ribena's longstanding recipe
2128-401: The disease. However the quality and yield of these varieties are poor as compared to non-resistant strains and only Consort is reliably self-fertile. Back-crossing these varieties to a parent have produced new strains such as 'Titania' that have a higher yield, better disease resistance, are more tolerant of adverse weather conditions and are suitable for machine harvesting. Two new releases from
2184-465: The fruit are grown, mostly under contract to the juicing industry. Commercially, most large-scale cultivation of blackcurrants is done in eastern Europe for the juice and juice concentrate market. As of 2017 , major cultivation efforts to improve fruit characteristics occurred in Scotland, New Zealand, and Poland. Blackcurrants were once popular in the United States as well, but became less common in
2240-527: The issue only affects Australia and New Zealand, and Ribena products sold in other markets, such as the United Kingdom, contain the levels of vitamin C stated on the product label. In January 2007, a study conducted by the Australian Consumers' Association for Choice magazine reported that blackcurrant juice (from concentrate) only constituted 5% of the Ribena fruit drink product. By 2013,
2296-412: The juice. The purée can be used to make blackcurrant preserves and be included in cheesecakes , yogurt , ice cream , desserts , sorbets , and many other sweet dishes. The exceptionally strong flavour can be moderated by combining it with other fruits, such as raspberries and strawberries in summer pudding , or apples in crumbles and pies. The juice can be used in syrups and cordials. Blackcurrants are
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2352-471: The leaves and shoot tips, and botrytis may cause the fruit to rot in a wet season. Currant and gooseberry leaf spot ( Drepanopeziza ribis ) is another disease of blackcurrants, but it is not usually a serious problem as most cultivars now have some resistance. The blackcurrant leaf midge can cause browning, crimping and distortion of leaves at the tips of shoots but it is seldom a serious problem. The blackcurrant sawfly ( Nematus ribesii ) lays its eggs on
2408-517: The mainstay of the industry for many years but it has now largely been superseded by more productive and disease-resistant varieties. During the 20th century in Europe, much hybridisation work has been carried out in order to reduce the plant's susceptibility to disease and frost and also to increase yields. This effort centered mainly in Scotland, Poland, and New Zealand. In Britain the Scottish Crop Research Institute
2464-402: The ovule may have passed the stage where it is receptive. If fewer than about 35 ovules are fertilised , the fruit may not be able to develop and will fall prematurely. Frost can damage both unopened and open flowers when the temperature falls below −1.9 °C (28.6 °F). The flowers at the base of the strig are more protected by the foliage and are less likely to be damaged. In midsummer
2520-418: The risk of introducing viruses . On a garden scale the plants can be set at intervals of 1.5 to 1.8 m (5 to 6 ft) or they can be set in rows with planting intervals of 1.2 m (4 ft) and row separations of 2.5 m (8 ft) or more. In the UK, young bushes are generally planted deeper than their initial growing level to encourage new stems to grow from the base. The blackcurrant requires
2576-560: The rust. As a result, the blackcurrant was banned in the United States as a disease vector for much of the 20th century, and even after the federal ban was lifted in 1966, several U.S. states continued their own bans , some of which remain in force as of August 2021. The effectiveness of these restrictions is questionable, since other Ribes species also host the disease, some are native to North America, and others such as red currants and Ribes uva-crispa were never banned. American gooseberry mildew and powdery mildew can infect
2632-426: The strigs of green fruit ripen to edible berries , very dark purple in colour, almost black, with glossy skins and calyxes at the apex (the calyxes being persistent ), each containing many seeds . An established bush can produce about 4.5 kilograms (10 pounds) of fruit each year. Plants from Northern Asia are sometimes distinguished as a separate variety, Ribes nigrum var. sibiricum , of which R. cyathiforme
2688-399: The underside of the leaves and the voracious larvae work their way along the shoots, stripping off leaf after leaf. In a serious attack, the bush can be denuded of leaves. Larvae of the currant borer drill their way along the centres of shoots, which wilt and die back. Other insect pests include scale insects , aphids and earwigs . There are many cultivars of blackcurrant. 'Baldwin' was
2744-551: The vitamin C levels of their favourite fruit drinks. They discovered that the "Ready to Drink Ribena" product they tested had undetectable levels of vitamin C, contrary to the brand's reputation and advertisements which said that "the blackcurrants in Ribena contain four times the vitamin C of oranges". The television consumer affairs show Fair Go broadcast the story nationwide in October 2004. Following further testing, in March 2007,
2800-638: The years GSK and its predecessors developed many soft drink versions of Ribena but it retained an image as a "healthy food" in the UK and other Commonwealth countries. In 2001, a formulation of the diluted Ribena cordial, sold as Ribena Toothkind (and endorsed by the British Dental Association as being less damaging to teeth than other soft drinks), was judged by the United Kingdom Advertising Standards Authority to have been advertised in
2856-523: The yield and cold winds may restrict the number of flying insects visiting and pollinating the flowers. A soil pH of about 6 is ideal for blackcurrants and the ground can be limed if the soil is too acidic. Planting is usually done in the autumn or winter to allow the plants to become established before growth starts in the spring, but container-grown stock can be planted at any time of year. Two-year-old bushes are usually planted but strong one-year-old stock can also be used. Planting certified stock avoids
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#17327870455342912-562: Was a delicacy in nineteenth century New York . They can provide a dipping sauce at barbecues . They can be blended with mayonnaise , and used to invigorate bananas and other tropical fruits. Blackcurrants can be combined with dark chocolate or added to mincemeat in traditional mince pies at Christmas. Japan imports US$ 3.6 million of New Zealand blackcurrants for uses as dietary supplements , snacks, functional food products and as quick-frozen (IQF) produce for culinary production as jams, jellies or preserves . The juice forms
2968-699: Was changed by the addition of artificial sweeteners in response to the introduction of a sugary drinks tax by the UK government. Ribena was originally manufactured in England by the Bristol -based food and drink company HW Carter as a blackcurrant squash . Development research into pure fruit syrups for the manufacture of milkshakes had been done at the Long Ashton Agriculture and Horticulture Research Station in North Somerset using
3024-443: Was in response to growth in the flavoured carbonate market that year. In 2022, as part of a promotion with Hasbro , a Ribena themed Monopoly edition was created. This set was distributed to 10,000 customers through an online competition. Blackcurrant The blackcurrant ( Ribes nigrum ), also known as black currant or cassis , is a deciduous shrub in the family Grossulariaceae grown for its edible berries . It
3080-440: Was tasked with developing new varieties suitable for growing in the north of the country. They produced new cultivars that had greater cold tolerance, especially in the spring, ripened earlier and more evenly and had greater fungal disease resistance. Frost tolerance was improved by selecting for late flowering and genetic research identified genes involved in resistance to gall mite and the blackcurrant reversion virus. 'Ben Lomond'
3136-538: Was the first of the 'Ben' varieties and was released in 1975. This was followed by several other cultivars for the juicing industry such as 'Ben Alder' and 'Ben Tirran'. The cultivar 'Ben Hope' was released in 1998 with increased tolerance to gall mite, and in the same year, 'Ben Gairn' became available. It shows resistance to the reversion virus. For gardeners and the pick-your-own market, 'Ben Sarek', 'Ben Connan' and 'Big Ben' were introduced and have large, sweet berries. The cultivars 'Ben Connan' and 'Big Ben' have gained
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