They are believed to prevent the growth and development of tumors. Experts recommend that everyone eat at least one handful of blackberries each day, and when they are not in season, keep in mind that you can make tea from their dried leaves. You can also make syrups or marmalades from them. And of course, blackberries are delicious in ice cream, yogurt and many desserts. We are in the middle of blackberry season, and when you see mounds of this colorful fruit at the greengrocer, don't hesitate to buy some. Blackberries used to be scarce and very expensive, but now they are abundant and therefore quite cheap. Thanks to efforts by the Ministry of Agriculture over the past eight years, there are now 10 regions of Turkey that produce blackberries. Tokat, Adana, Samsun, Maraş, Ordu, Erzurum, Erzincan, Malatya, Hatay and Isparta are all home to blackberry fields. With a great harvest this year, growers are selling the fruit to ice cream, cake, medicine and cosmetics makers, as well as putting the fresh fruit itself on the market for people to buy and eat. While the color and size of blackberries cultivated on farms are incredible, smaller and lighter colored wild blackberries are, of course, even tastier and more beneficial for your health. But gathering wild blackberries is quite difficult, so we often have to settle for farm-grown blackberries. After all, with all that they bring us -- the fight against cancer is the first to come to mind, not to mention, of course, the flavor -- we are not about to leave blackberries off our tables.
Blackberries’ secret weapon
The ellagic acid found in blackberries is believed to help fight cancer. Oncologists note that studies in the United States have shown that blackberries can be effective in reducing the growth and development of tumors in animals, and even shrinking them. Ellagic acid is also found in strawberries, grapes and raspberries.
Blackberries are seasonally a mid-summer and autumnal fruit, so experts advise eating them fresh and making marmalades and syrups from them to consume when they are not in season. They can also be frozen to preserve their flavor and health benefits. Not only the fruit itself, but also blackberry leaves and roots are thought to be effective against cancer. Experts say that eating blackberries a few times a year is insufficient if you wish to benefit from this delicious berry. Try making syrup from them by crushing and then boiling them. No need to add sugar. When you consume this syrup, you can do so straight by the spoonful or add it to cake or ice cream if you wish.
Professor Resul Gerçekçioğlu, an agricultural consultant, notes that Turkish farmers have finally realized the true potential of blackberries and says increased interest in this fruit means that more and more fields are being planted with blackberries these days. In the past, few farmers considered planting blackberries, as there were already many wild blackberries growing in the region. But now, with increased support from the Ministry of Agriculture and academics, farmers are planting blackberries on fields that once grew watermelons and wheat. Gerçekçioğlu notes that he believes the farmers that have done so are very pleased with their efforts and that blackberry consumption is only set to increase in Turkey.
