Hey Sweeties,
We have been so fortunate this year in the UK, particularly in the south-east (I can’t speak for everywhere else) that we have enjoyed a super early, super bumper crop of blackberries. As spring turns into summer, I start noticing the hedges of bramble bushes begin to flower and then form into reddy-pink fruit; as soon as the blackberries ripen you can be sure I’m clearing space in my freezer, grabbing tubs and heading on out to strip all the local bushes. What’s even better this year, is that I managed to grow my own blackberry bush in my garden and train it up the back fence, and it has been such a pleasure watching blackberries form and ripen, before picking.
4 Reasons why I love Blackberries
1. Picking blackberries calms my anxiety
I am already a champion of getting out for some fresh air after a long, often stressful day at work to clear the mind and exercise the body, but during the latter part of summer into early autumn, blackberry picking can add a new incentive to keep this personal wellness going.
2. Blackberries are free
I mean sure, pay £3 for a small punnet from the supermarket, or go out into the fresh air and raid the local bushes until your arms hurt/can carry no more tubs (whichever comes first)… the choice for me is obvious.
3. Baking -cakes, crumbles…
After I have spent weeks picking blackberries and packing them into tubs and putting them into the freezer, over the following months I then start enjoying them in cooking. They are great in cakes, but my favourite thing to make is apple and blackberry crumbles (particularly Deliciously Ella’s recipe); they for me are the ultimate autumnal pudding to enjoy on a cosy Sunday.
4. Breakfast -on cereal, in smoothies…
In addition to point four, I also love enjoying blackberries for breakfast, whether that be on top of cereal, in a smoothie, or mixed into porridge.
If you are quick, you can still make the most of this great blackberry season, so put on your trainers, grab a tub and head on out to strip those blackberry bushes of this amazing free, delicious fruit.
Do you like blackberries?
Until next time x
