All About Barberry | Know Your Spice European Barberry, Zereshk or Berbery (Berberis vulgaris)
Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) also known as Zereshk are primarily harvested in Iran; they’re also cultivated in northwest Africa, various regions of Europe, the USA and Canada.
It is different from Indian Barberry (Berberis aristata) or tree turmeric, however, they are both shrubs belonging to the family Berberidaceae and the genus Berberis.
The famines in the early tenth century in Spain were largely because of the damage done to the wheat crops by stem rust.
The Stem rust fungus through barberries was found to be the culprit.
The common barberry (Berberis vulgaris) is a host to the stem rust fungus, and is crucial to the pathogen completing its life cycle.
This may go some way to explain why barberries are so rarely heard of these days.
However, it has been an important ingredient in Iranian & Afghan cuisines, where it is used to flavour rice dishes.
What are the other names of Barberry?
| Indian Languages | Other Languages | |
| Hindi: Rasaunt Telugu: Kasthoori pushpa Punjabi: – Marathi: – Kannada: Bagisutrum Malayalam: Kasturi manjal Tamil: Mullukkala Urdu: – | Latin (Botanical): Berberis vulgaris Iranian: Zereshk Chinese: Fú niú English: Barberry, Holy Thorn French: Epine-Vinette German: Berberitze Italian: Crespino comune Spanish: Navadni češmin, abrilla |
What exactly is Barberry?
Spice Card – All About Barberry | Know Your Spice Barberry (Berberis vulgaris)
Barberry is the dried fruit of a thorny shrub called Berberis vulgaris from the Berberidaceae (Barberry Family). It is also known as European barberry & is cultivated for its fruit.
The shrub, native to central and southern Europe, northwest Africa and western Asia, grows to about 9 feet tall and produces bright yellow flowers that bloom in late spring.
The fruit is a small oblong bright red berry, 7 to 10 millimeter long and 3 to 5 millimeter wide, that ripens in late summer or autumn. The fruit is edible but sharply acidic.
Except for its fruits and seeds, the plant is mildly poisonous. Its most potent agent is berberine, which is known to have a number of therapeutic benefits.
What is the nutritional value of Barberry?
Barberries are highly nutritious. They are rich in carbs, fiber, and several vitamins and minerals.
Barberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, an antioxidant that may help protect against cellular damage
100 gram of the fruit contain 316 calories of energy, 3.6 gram of protein, 63.9 gram of Carbohydrate, 27.2 grams of Sugar, 3.5 grams of Fat, 7.4 gram of Dietary fiber, and 24 mg of Vitamin C in it.
What is the chemical composition of Barberry?
Barberries contain different nutrients including dextrose, fructose, malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, pectin, & resin.
It is rich in vitamins C and A, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese & potassium.
The fruit, stem and the root bark of barberries contain chemicals such as protoberberine alkaloids and Isoquinoline, that are effective enough in treating several ailments.
The most important compounds identified in this plant are berberine, oxycontin, palmatine, bervulcine, berbamine, columbamine, jatrorrhizine, coptisine, and berbamine.
In addition to alkaloids, organic acids such as chelidonic acid, citric acid, malic acid, resin, tannin, pectinic, and mucilagic substances are among the ingredients of barberries.
What is the history of Barberry?
Medicinal uses of barberries goes as far back as ancient Egypt, where pharaohs and queens took it with fennel seed to ward off the plague.
Medicinal uses of Berberis vulgaris in Chinese medicine date back to over 3000 years ago and in some other countries to over 2500 years ago.
In Iran, Rhazes was the first one to introduce the medicinal properties of Berberis vulgaris and considered its use to be helpful for human beings.
Even today, it is said to ease the pain of arthritis and rheumatism, and the flare-ups of psoriasis.
The oldest findings on the use of barberry fruit to purify blood were inscribed on the clay tablets in the library of Assyrian (present day Iraq) emperor Asurbanipal during 650 BC.
The stem bark, stem, roots and root bark of Berberis species have been widely used in Ayurvedic, Homeopathic and ethno-medicines as raw materials or ingredients.
The famines in the early tenth century in Spain were largely because of the damage done to the wheat crops by stem rust.
The Stem rust fungus through barberry was found to be the culprit.
Berberis vulgaris is also a host to the stem rust fungus, and is crucial to the pathogen completing its life cycle.
This may go some way to explain why barberries are so rarely heard of these days.
What are the uses of Barberry?
- The fruit or its derivatives are used to produce certain products such as sauce, jelly, juice, jam, marmalade, and carbonated drinks.
- It is used to season, flavor, and garnish foods.
- It is also used in industries for making nature based dyes or colours.
- In traditional medicine, different organs of this plant are used to treat diseases.
What does Barberry taste like?
Barberries are known to have a tart, slightly sweet flavour.
Barberry Tea
What can I use Barberry for?
- The small size of barberries makes them ideal for tossing into rice or couscous dishes.
- They are a perfect addition to a chicken salad or chicken stew.
- Their extract can be used as a flavouring for candies and drinks.
- You can make jam or jellies with barberries as well.
- In Iran, the tiny fruit from the Berberis vulgaris bush is sold as street food.
- You can use them as a garnish over pot-roasted chicken.
- Crush the dry berries with coarse sea salt into a rough powder, then rub on to lamb, pork or chicken before grilling.
- Pair barberries with with orange zest and cinnamon & add them to your minced meat.
- Their dried roots can be used to make tea. The recipe for the tea is given below.
- You can use the fruits to make their juice too.
How long does Barberry last?
When fresh they’ll keep at room temperature for a few days. When dried & stored appropriately they will last for about a year.
How do I store Barberry?
Store dried barberries in an airtight pack in the freezer to retain maximum color and flavor.
Is there a substitute for Barberry?
- You can use cranberries fresh or dried in much the same way that you can use barberries.
- Acidity of sour cherries makes them effective alternative for barberries.
- Sumac works for its intense tartness with a strong citrus note.
- Raisins or currants soaked in lemon juice can also do a decent job of substituting barberries.
Where do I buy Barberry from?
Barberry is available in tea, tincture, capsule, fluid extracts, dried herb (fruit), and tablet forms, as well as a topical ointment.
What are the health benefits of Barberry?
The following are health benefits of Barberry or Zereshk, European Barberry or Berbery.
- Health Benefits of European Barberry as an Antioxidant – Barberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, an antioxidant that may help protect against cellular damage, which can lead to heart disease and cancer.
- Health Benefits of European Barberry for Nutritional Benefits – Barberries are rich in berberine, a unique plant compound that may be associated with several health benefits.
- Health Benefits of European Barberry against Diabetes – Barberries — and in particular their berberine content — may play a role in managing diabetes, a chronic disease marked by high blood sugar levels.
- Health Benefits of European Barberry against Diarrhea – High concentration of berberine helps slow the transit of feces through your gut by inhibiting certain receptors, thus preventing diarrhea.
- Health Benefits of European Barberry as a Anti-inflammatory Agent – Berberine acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory agent against dental diseases like gingivitis, which is marked by plaque buildup, swelling, and irritation of the gums.
- Health Benefits of European Barberry Anticancer Properties – Since berberine acts as an antioxidant, it may help fight underlying oxidative damage associated with cancer development.
- Health Benefits of European Barberry for Skincare – Berberine and other compounds in barberries may help fight inflammation and infections associated with acne.
Barberry | Barberry Tea - How to Make Barberry Tea
Ingredients
- 2 Teaspoon Barberries Fresh or Dried
- 1 Cup Water
Instructions
- Heat water till hot but not boiling.
- If using berries, chop each barberry into quarters. You can crush them as well.
- Steep 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried barberry root (or, 1 to 2 teaspoons of whole or crushed berries) in hot water for 15 minutes.
- Have your Barberry Tea three times to add the health benefits of barberries to your body.
Notes
- If using berries, chop each barberry into quarters. You can crush them as well.
- Barberries are tart but they have a subtle sweetness as well, so you can avoid sweetening barberry tea.
- However, if you need the barberry tea to be sweeter, simply add a little honey to it.
Tools & Equipment Used For This Recipe
FInally! To Sum It Up
Spice Card – All About Barberry | Know Your Spice Barberry (Berberis vulgaris)
Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) also known as Zereshk are primarily harvested in Iran; they’re also cultivated in northwest Africa, various regions of Europe, USA & Canada.
It is different from Indian Barberry (Berberis aristata) or tree turmeric, however, they are both shrubs belonging to the family Berberidaceae and the genus Berberis.
The famines in the early tenth century in Spain were largely because of the damage done to the wheat crops by stem rust.
The Stem rust fungus through barberries was found to be the culprit.
The common barberry (Berberis vulgaris) is a host to the stem rust fungus, and is crucial to the pathogen completing its life cycle.
This may go some way to explain why barberries are so rarely heard of these days.
However, it has been an important ingredient in Iranian & Afghan cuisines, where it is used to flavour rice dishes.
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6 comments
I live in Thailand and can’t find Barberry.
Hello Wade! Do try Amazon (https://amzn.to/3gyQqRY), if it works for you. Good luck
The tea recipe looks good. I even love barberries in my yoghurt. Is there a specifc time recommended for drinking this tea.
Hi Jane. You can have it a Barberry tea at anytime of the day you wish to.
Can I add a sweetener to this tea?
Barberries are acidic but have a natural sweetness so you really don’t need to add a sweetner. But, in case you don’t like the tartness, feel free to add a bit of honey.