Dried Black Currants

Black currants, red currants, white currants and gooseberries all belong to the Ribes genus of the Currant family.  Red and black currants have been cultivated for the last four to five hundred years.  Black currants are higher in acidity than red or white and have a distinct aroma.  In Burgundy, the French turn black currants into cassis liqueur.  The liqueur is mixed with white wine to make the Kir aperitif. 

When purchasing dried currants it is common to find dried Zante currant grapes.  These seedless grapes originated in Corinth, Greece (hence the name 'currant') where they have been dried and exported since Classical times.