Golden coloured UK-grown raspberries to go on sale
16 August 2011
Recently we’ve had pink mushrooms, black raspberries and purple, green and orange coloured cauliflower.
Recently we’ve had pink mushrooms, black raspberries and purple, green and orange coloured cauliflower.
Now striking golden raspberries are to join the growing trend for rare and different coloured varieties of fruit and vegetables.
Called Champagne Raspberries the fruit is being grown in Berkshire by one of the UK’s largest berry growers.
And tomorrow (Wednesday August 17) the berries go on sale exclusively at Tesco .
Said Tesco berry expert Ciara Grace: “Brits love their berries and this year has seen an exceptional demand because of the high quality of the fruit caused by perfect growing conditions.
“Over the last few years we’ve seen British growers become much bolder in producing different varieties of traditional berries such as strasberries – a cross between strawberries and raspberries; and black raspberries.
“Now with the arrival of a golden coloured variety shoppers have three colours of raspberry from which to choose.”
The champagne variety has a sweet, subtle and completely unique taste compared to other raspberries with also less sharpness than its red cousin.
The yellow colour comes from natural pigments which are normally hidden by the strong red pigment in normal red raspberries.
They become more visible when the red pigment is missing from the berry. It is missing because of a natural genetic change in the plant when it is bred from two red varieties.
The champagne raspberry is being grown for Tesco by Hall Hunter who are based near Twyford in Berkshire and who have a great record for producing unusual berries.
They also grow a black raspberry with a more intense flavour than traditional red varieties which has become a top seller since going on sale at Tesco last month.
The variety is called Mac Black and its deep flavour has been likened to raspberry jam. They are as juicy as a blackberry but are sweeter and have the texture of a raspberry.
It is high in antioxidants – which can fight harmful molecules gathering in the body and damaging cells - and is grown exclusively for Tesco.
Added Tesco’s Ciara Grace: “We think these berries will be especially popular with parents as unusually coloured fruit and vegetables usually goes down well with kids and is a great way to get them to eat their five-a-day.”
The yellow raspberries cost £1.50 for a 125g punnet.