The southeastern USA blackberry season is upon us! Blackberries – also referred to as caneberries, are grown on a large bush, similar to blueberries and raspberries. The Wish Farms blackberries you will see in the store this season are grown in different parts of Georgia and North Carolina.
The berry itself starts as a white flower, then grows into a green berry, then a red berry, until it is ripe and ready to pick as a dark, richly colored black berry. This process takes around 30-40 days, depending on weather.
Blackberries are perennials, which means their roots survive year after year and they do not have to be replanted each season.
All the hard word that goes into growing the best blackberries pays off in their delicious taste AND nutritional value. Blackberries are packed full of vitamin C, antioxidants and fiber and are linked to several health benefits including cognitive brain function and oral health.
Here are a few of our favorite ways to enjoy our delicious blackberries:
Blackberry Rose Margarita
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fresh blackberries
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup honey
- coarse salt for the rim
- 1 cup silver tequila
- ½ cup orange liqueur
- ½ cup blackberry syrup (recipe below)
- 1½ cups rosé wine
- lemon or lime wedges, for garnish
Blackberry Bacon Grilled Cheese
Ingredients:
- 2 slices of sourdough or grainy wheat bread
- 4 slices Swiss or Pepper Jack cheese (choose based on your spicy preferences)
- 4 pieces bacon cooked
- 1 jalapeno sliced
- 1 tablespoon blackberry jam
- 4-6 fresh Wish Farms blackberries, chopped
Lemon and Blackberry Olive Oil Cake with Lavender, Blueberries and Mascarpone
Ingredients:
- 1 cups extra virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cups ricotta cheese
- 2 cup all purpose flour
- 5 eggs
- 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- Zest from 1 lemon
- A pinch of sea salt
- 1 package Wish Farms blueberries
- 1/2 cup Wish Farms blackberries
- 1/4 cup lavender
Blueberry Sauce
- 1/2 pound Wish Farms blueberries
- 1/2 lemon juiced
- 2-3 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Mascarpone Cream Filling
- 4 large egg yolks
- 4 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 3/4 pound mascarpone cheese
- 1.5 cup whipped cream ( Stiff )
- zest from 1 lemon
Lemon Curd Filling
- 1/2 cup lemon juice freshly squeezed
- Zest from 1 lemon
- 5 large egg yolks
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 5 tablespoon butter cut into 5 pieces.