Boysenberry is a cross between European Blackberry (Rubus Fruticosus), European Raspberry (Rubus Idaeus), Loganberry (Rubus X Loganobaccus), and American Blackberry (Rubus Aboriginum). It is a large aggregate fruit with deep maroon color and large seeds. It has a slightly tart and sweet taste. This tangy berry can be enjoyed on its own or in smoothies, desserts, syrups, jams, jellies, and sauces. Apart from the sweet and tangy taste, it has a variety of potential health benefits.
The nutrition facts and health benefits of using Boysenberry can help you to improve your immunity, lung health, brain health, digestion, blood pressure regulation, and prevent cancer up to some extent. After knowing the health benefits of boysenberry, you go out searching for it. But you won’t find fresh ones but most probably the frozen boysenberries. Otherwise, you can grow boysenberry at home.
History of Boysenberry
During the 1920s, horticulturist Rudolph Boysen of Napa, California, reportedly experimented with various crosses between the berries. Boysen moved to Orange County, where he planted berry vines on his in-law’s farm in Anaheim, California. Boysen obtained the loganberry-dewberry from the farm of a man named John Lubben. In 193, the Boysenberry hybrid was successful but not commercially viable.
Towards the end of the decade, George M. Darrow of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) began tracking the stories behind the growth of boysenberries. Darrow enlisted the help of a farmer named Walter Knott, who was a well-known berry expert. The two discovered that Boysen had given up on the idea of boysenberry as a crop and sold his farm after he got back broken in an accident years earlier.
Undeterred by the discovery, Darrow and Knott traveled to Boysen’s old farm and found several surviving brittle berry vines in a weedy field. Vines of boysenberry plants were transplanted and cared for at Knott’s farm. The Knott family’s pie and restaurant business eventually became Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California.
Knott is considered to be the first to grow the boysenberry commercially in Southern California. It was first sold in 1932 through his farm stand.
Boysenberry Taste
The boysenberry has an exceptionally sweet, tart, juicy and rich flavor that stems from its complex ancestry. It has the vinous flavor and sweetness of three native berry species. The sweetness and aroma come from the raspberry.
You will want to find berries that are not bruised at farmers’ markets. Since underripe reddish berries are very acidic, it is best to look for darker-colored berries. Different types of boysenberry products such as sauces, cakes, and jams contain both tart and sweet berries.
Boysenberry Nutrition Facts
Boysenberry is a protein, vitamin, and mineral-rich diet. The main vitamins are Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, and folic acid.
When it comes to minerals in boysenberry, it contains large amounts of
- Iron
- Calcium
- Manganese
- Copper
- Zinc
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Magnesium
One cup of unsweetened and frozen berries contains the following nutrition:
| Nutrient | Amount | Daily Value |
| Calories | 68 | 3% |
| Carbohydrates | 16.1g | 5% |
| Fiber | 7g | 28% |
| Protein | 1.5g | 3% |
| Total Fat | 0.3g | 100% |
| Iron | 1.12mg | 6% |
| Manganese | 0.72mg | 36% |
| Copper | 0.11mg | 5% |
| Calcium | 35.64mg | 4% |
| Magnesium | 21.12mg | 5% |
| Phosphorus | 35.64mg | 4% |
| Potassium | 183.48mg | 5% |
| Sodium | 1.32mg | |
| Selenium | 0.26mcg | |
| Zinc | 0.29mg | 2% |
| Folate | 83.16mcg | 21% |
| Vitamin B1 | 0.007mg | 4% |
| Vitamin B2 | 0.05mg | 3% |
| Vitamin B3 | 1.01mg | 5% |
| Vitamin B5 | 0.33mg | 3% |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.07mg | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 88.44U | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 4.09mg | 7% |
| Vitamin E | 1.15mg | 4% |
| Vitamin K | 10.3mcg | 13% |
| Choline | 13.46mg |
Health Benefits of Boysenberry
1. Healthy Brain
Consumption of boysenberries is beneficial for the human brain. They are home to a powerful natural antioxidant known as anthocyanin. It is extremely important to support brain health and memory recall. Also, it protects against oxidative damage that might result in Alzheimer’s disease or brain aging.
2. Healthy Heart
The heart is an important part of the body and should be taken care of. To prevent any cardiovascular disease or other heart problems, one can rely on the use and health benefits of boysenberries. Regular consumption helps to boost immunity and fight viruses. Also, cholesterol levels can be reduced leading to an active, light, and healthy life.
3. Maintain Healthy Blood Pressure
Boysenberries have a phenomenal ratio of potassium to sodium. It helps to reduce the risk of high blood pressure. A cup of boysenberries contains 183 mg of potassium and 1.3 mg of sodium. This ratio helps the blood vessels relax and maintain balanced blood pressure. Apart from this, a diet high in potassium reduces the stress on the heart and improves overall cardiovascular health.
4. Prevents Diabetes
Boysenberries are full of vitamin K which is an essential vitamin. Since it helps to eliminate kidney stones, it also can improve or cure diabetes. If you are suffering from the major health problems of diabetes, then try boysenberries as a natural cure. In time, you will improve overall health. Also, boysenberries ensure that you are not prone to any type of disorder.
5. Improve Digestive Health
Boysenberries contain a considerable amount of dietary fiber. It helps to prevent constipation and makes it easier to control bowel movements. Also, fiber is the key to a healthy heart that can remove cholesterol from blood vessels and arteries. The suggested daily usage of boysenberries for men and women is 38g and 25g, respectively.
6. Reduces The Risk Of Kidney Stones
Boysenberries contain a considerable amount of Vitamin K. It is a particular vitamin that helps lessen the effect of thickened arteries. Moreover, it reduces the cause of kidney stones and certain diseases. Also, it helps to maintain great health and prevent diabetes.
7. Increases Bone Strength
As mentioned earlier, boysenberries are a good source of vitamin K. It acts on the retention of calcium in the bones. As a result, it reduces the risk of osteoporosis. An adequate intake of vitamin K can reduce urinary calcium excretion. A cup of boysenberries contains 13% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin K.
8. Useful For Pregnant Women And Their Babies
Boysenberries are a good source of B-complex vitamins such as folic acid or folate. Folate has been shown to help red blood cell formation and neural tube formation in prenatal babies. Also, folic acid deficiency in pregnant women can lead to low-birth-weight babies. Also, it can cause neural tube defects in newborns.
9. Takes Good Care Of Your Skin
Boysenberries take good care of the skin. It is one of the important benefits you can get from it. Since they are a natural boon, you can consider them for your skincare. Also, you will be surprised by the results. You don’t have to worry about spending bucks at cosmetic stores or salons for skincare products.
The use of boysenberries will rejuvenate the skin and make you feel alive, fresh, and beautiful. Hence, use boysenberries for skincare instead of cosmetic products. Also, you can use some best skincare products with blueberry extracts.
10. Helps You Lose Weight
These days, the biggest concern is losing weight. Mostly, people don’t know what kind of diet they should use to lose weight. Instead, they start diets to make them gain weight. An ultimate organic fruit that speeds up the metabolism and helps people to lose a lot of weight, is boysenberries.
The low calories and fat make them a perfect fit for losing weight. Often, boysenberries are used in salads and sometimes as low-calorie dressings. Since boysenberries are healthy, make sure that you have consulted your nutritionist or dietician.
11. Healthier Vision
With the increase in technology, better vision is one of the critical issues that most people face these days. Even at an early age, they start wearing eyesight glasses. It is not that you can completely improve the vision but you can have a healthier vision by using boysenberries. The healthy and natural properties of this fruit can dramatically improve vision, especially in cases when eyesight is not too weak.
Boysenberries – A Cross Of Berries and Its Health Benefits
Boysenberry is a hybrid cross of loganberry, American blackberry, European raspberry, common blackberry, and other berries. Boysenberry is known for its large size with tart and sweet flavor. Also, a distinctive dark purple and reddish blue color make it popular. Also, boysenberry is excellent in desserts, smoothies, jams, and jellies. Also, it offers delicious recipes for boysenberry syrup and preserves, pie, and tart.
When it comes to the health benefits of boysenberry, it consists of vitamins, minerals, and proteins. The important health benefits of using boysenberry are a healthy heart, healthy brain, strong immune system, healthy skin, lesser chances of kidney stones, improves digestive system, healthy blood pressure, helps in losing weight, etc. All these health benefits come from the use of Boysenberry in the recommended amounts.