Polyphenols, Flavonoids, and Anthocyanins, Oh My! May 20 2024, 0 Comments

What’s in a Black Raspberry?

We like to let the research do the talking when it comes to black raspberries, but it can be confusing when words like polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins seem to be used interchangeably. What are these compounds, and how do they relate to the black raspberry? This newsletter will be the first in a new series explaining some of the fundamental components of a black raspberry!

 

Polyphenols

Polyphenols are a large, diverse group of plant nutrients that can be found in foods like dark chocolate, spices, whole grains, tea leaves, fruits, and vegetables. There are thousands of types of polyphenols, but one of the main polyphenols found in black raspberries is…

Flavonoids

Flavonoids are plant pigments that are divided into six main classes. They can be found in anything from tea leaves and lemons to berries. One role of flavonoids is to help plants attract pollinators, and many flowers get their colors from flavonoids! The class of flavonoid found in the highest amounts in black raspberries is…

Anthocyanins

Anthocyanins are a subset of flavonoids that give some fruits and vegetables a deep red, purple, or black color. Plants have the ability to synthesize anthocyanins in nature to use as an antioxidant, as protection against UV light and microbes, and as a response to environmental stresses like cold or drought!

Black raspberries have some of the highest concentrations of anthocyanins of any fruit, which makes them high in antioxidant activity and a healthy addition to any meal. It’s also one of the reasons black raspberries have been used in many research studies.

 

For our black raspberry products, we use whole black raspberries picked at peak ripeness. This is not only to maximize the unique anthocyanins that our black raspberries contain, but also to make sure you are getting all the other polyphenols and healthy nutrients found in the natural berry.

As we continue this series, we are excited to share with you some of the research on polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins, and how to easily add these healthy compounds to your day.

Decadent Black Raspberry Pumpkin Butter December 05 2023, 0 Comments

When the thermometer starts to dip, especially after a chilly fall night, we usually crave something warm in the morning to heat us back up. Toast is quick and easy, but we wanted a way to make our morning toast feel a little more... substantial. After a few tries, we've come up with a black raspberry pumpkin butter that manages to taste rich and delicious while also being a healthy spread to slather on toast or a bran muffin in the morning.

 

Ingredients:

• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 1/3 cup brown sugar or sugar of choice
• 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
• ⅓ cup unsweetened apple cider
• 1 ½ tsp lemon juice 
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp Kosher salt or ⅛ tsp table salt
• ¼ cup (16 grams) of BerriHealth Black Raspberry Powder, lightly packed.

 

Instructions:

1. In a medium saucepan, combine all the ingredients except the black raspberry powder. 
2. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat with the lid partially covering the pot to prevent splattering. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring frequently so it doesn’t scorch on the bottom. Adjust sweetness and spice levels to taste.
3. Turn off the stove and remove the pot from heat. Let the pumpkin butter cool for a few minutes and then add the black raspberry powder. Mix until uniform. The pumpkin butter will thicken after you add the black raspberry powder and as it cools. 
4. When the black raspberry pumpkin butter is completely cooled, put it in a glass container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for a few months.
5. Spread your black raspberry pumpkin butter on toast, muffins, pancakes, waffles, or add some to your morning hot cereal or smoothie!

 

Black Raspberry Morning Muffins October 28 2023, 0 Comments

Early mornings can be hard to start on a positive note, especially as December arrives and the sun rises later than you do. These muffins might mirror those early morning hues, but that's only because they are infused with the power of black raspberry anthocyanins to energize your day! Filled with carrots, apple, nuts, and dried fruit, these morning muffins are packed with healthy whole foods, with a hint of sweetness and zing from orange juice to brighten up your morning routine.

They are great on their own, or you can try them with our black raspberry pumpkin butter spread.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups (240g) whole wheat flour, lightly packed*
• ¼ cup (20g) BerriHealth Black Raspberry Powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• ½ tsp table salt
• ⅔ cup avocado or vegetable oil
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 3 large eggs at room temperature
• ½ cup orange juice
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups grated carrots
• 1 cup grated apple
• ½ cup dried cranberries, cherries or raisins
• ½ cups chopped walnuts or pecans
• Optional: sprinkle some pumpkin or sunflower seeds on top

Notes:

*We tried a few different types of whole wheat flour, and the weight in grams for 2 cups of flour was different for all of them. We recommend using a scale if at all possible!

 

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray muffin pans with nonstick spray or use cupcake liners (we prefer liners made with parchment paper).
2. In a small bowl, cover the dried cranberries, cherries or raisins with hot water. Drain after 20 minutes, then set aside.
3. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, salt and Black Raspberry Powder. 
4. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the oil, brown sugar, eggs, orange juice, and vanilla. When nicely blended, mix in the grated carrots and apples.
5. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir together a few times with a rubber spatula. Then fold in the drained, dried fruit and nuts until just combined with no pockets of flour left. Do not overmix.
6. Fill to just below the top of the muffin cup or liner with batter. Sprinkle a few pumpkin or sunflower seeds on top of each muffin if desired.
7. Bake for 22-27 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out without any raw batter (there can be muffin crumbs on the toothpick). Take the muffin pan out of the oven and allow the muffins to cool for 5 minutes. Then, take the muffins out of the pan and cool on a wire rack until you’re ready to enjoy!
8. Store in the refrigerator in a covered container for up to a week. You can also freeze your muffins to make them last longer.

 

Fiber-Filled Black Raspberry Pumpkin Balls October 02 2023, 0 Comments

Every October, it's all about pumpkin spice. Everything from lattes to cookies has pumpkin spice. But what about the actual pumpkin? For this recipe, we wanted to focus on the actual pumpkin! Pumpkin is low in sugar, a good source of fiber, and has a ton of vitamins and and minerals like calcium, potassium, vitamin A, and vitamin K.

This black raspberry pumpkin ball recipe loads up on fiber with pumpkin, oats, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, and of course black raspberry powder to give a big boost of anthocyanin antioxidants to the mix. We also take a traditional pumpkin spice in cinnamon and give it a new pairing with an optional sprinkle of cayenne pepper to bring a hint of heat to each bite. A coating of unsweetened coconut makes them easy to grab for a healthy snack during the day.

 

Black Raspberry Pumpkin Balls:

Ingredients (Makes around 12 pumpkin balls):

• ¼ cup dark chocolate (see notes)
• 2 Tbsp Black Raspberry powder
• 1 cup oats
• ⅓ cup canned pumpkin puree
•  2 Tbsp almond butter or your favorite nut butter
•  2 Tbsp chia seeds
•  2 Tbsp pumpkin seeds
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon 
• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
•  2 Tbsp maple syrup or honey
• Pinch of salt
• ½ cup shredded unsweetened coconut shreds for coating the pumpkin balls.

 

Instructions:

• Pulse coconut in a food processor until finely chopped. Pour the chopped coconut in a separate small bowl for coating the rolled pumpkin balls later. You can also coat the balls in finely chopped nuts if you prefer. 
• Pulse all ingredients (except coconut) in a food processor until well-mixed.
• Roll the mixture into walnut sized balls and then coat balls in the bowl of finely chopped coconut.  Store the balls in the freezer or refrigerator.

 

Notes:

1. If you are buying canned pumpkin puree, make sure it is puree and not pumpkin pie mix (which has spices and sugar added).
2. If you want to make these pumpkin balls even healthier, take a bar of 70%+ dark chocolate and add it to the food processor with the rest of the ingredients to break it into smaller pieces. Dark chocolate chips are usually only 50% dark chocolate!
3. The cayenne pepper should not be "hot" but add just a little warmth to the flavor of the pumpkin balls. If you are sensitive to spice, adjust the cayenne pepper and cinnamon to your taste.
4. The mixture should come together in the food processor, but may be a little crumbly until forming the balls. If the mixture is very crumbly, add a teaspoon or two of water or juice.

No-Bake Healthy Chocolate Black Raspberry Brownies August 25 2022, 0 Comments

 

If you are looking for a healthy, delicious snack that will help you power through busy days, this recipe is for you.

These brownies use no flour, have no added sugars, and are vegan. Best of all, there is no need to turn on the oven and heat up your house making these delicious and healthy treats. No baking required!

Black Raspberry No-Bake Date Brownies

Ingredients (makes around 9 brownies):

• 1 ⅓ cups dates, pits removed
• 1 cup walnuts or pecans
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• Around ½ cup black raspberry powder, not packed (If cut into 9 squares, this is one serving per square)
• ¼ cup applesauce
• ½ cup almond or peanut butter
• ⅓ cup roughly chopped nuts

Instructions:

Note: If you are having trouble mixing, try mixing one half at a time, or using less black raspberry powder!

In a food processor:

1. Add dates and nuts and pulse a few times before processing until finely ground.
2. Add the cocoa powder and black raspberry powder and pulse until the powders are completely incorporated into the brownie mixture.
3. Add almond or peanut butter and applesauce and mix until the mixture comes together.

Line the bottom of an 8x8" baking pan with parchment paper (it makes the brownies easier to take out!) and press the brownie mixture firmly and evenly into the pan. Sprinkle the top of the brownies with chopped nuts, pressing the nuts lightly into the brownies. Cover and place the brownies in the fridge for at least one hour before cutting into squares and serving.

Tips and notes:

• Because this is a no-bake recipe, the mixture gets thick and put our blender to the test. The recipe worked much better when using a food processor.
• If the mixture is too thick, add a tablespoon or two of water or applesauce.
• You can always get creative with the toppings! We like adding some flake salt on top of our brownies in addition to the chopped nuts.
• This recipe was sent in by a customer, Scott M., who adapted it from Dr. Gregor's recipe which can be found here: https://nutritionfacts.org/recipe/fudgy-no-bake-brownies/

 

Black Raspberry Cocoa Overnight Oats - A Healthy, Quick Breakfast May 04 2022, 1 Comment

Spring is always a busy time for us. On the farm, we are getting rows of black raspberry plants ready for warmer days and more sun, and in the office we are already planning out the post-harvest production schedule. Long days at the office also means less time in the morning to make breakfast and get off to a healthy start.

Lately, when we want an easy breakfast, overnight oats have been a go-to meal. You can do all the prep the night before, and all you need is a jar and a spoon to have a delicious, healthy oatmeal the next day!

Cocoa Overnight Oats with Black Raspberry Yogurt:

Ingredients (one serving):

• ½ cup rolled oats
• ½ cup milk or milk alternative
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder
• Pinch of salt
• ½ cup plain or flavored yogurt (we start with plain and sweeten with a little maple syrup or honey)
• 1 serving (4 grams) black raspberry powder

Instructions:

Add the rolled oats, milk, chia seeds, cocoa powder, and salt to a jar or other container. Stir mixture thoroughly until all ingredients are completely incorporated with the milk. Sweeten to taste.

In a separate bowl, mix yogurt and black raspberry powder until combined, and then add a layer of yogurt on top of the overnight oats. If you plan on heating the oats before eating, we would recommend adding the yogurt mixture after heating.

Place the jar in the fridge and let it sit overnight. All done!

Tips:

• When it comes to choosing oats, make sure you use old-fashioned rolled oats. You certainly could use quick oats as well, but we find the texture to be a little too mushy. Rolled oats hold up much better to an overnight soak.
• This recipe does not have much in the way of sugar. Personally, we like to add a teaspoon of maple syrup to our overnight oats for flavor, and you get a small amount of polyphenols from the syrup.
• Mason jars make for great containers, can be found at most grocery stores, and are very inexpensive. The lids make the jars easy to take on the go as well. For overnight oats, we find the 500 mL jars work well.
• If you want to add more texture to your overnight oats, add some nuts or granola on top before eating!

 

This black raspberry guava smoothie is a healthy tropical escape! November 16 2021, 0 Comments

The fall season is coming to an end, and while we love sweater weather and pumpkin spice, occasionally it’s nice to have something that reminds us of warmer times.

Dr. William Li just shared with us a smoothie recipe that he loves, and the guava fruit in it made us immediately think of a tropical vacation. It turns out that guava is a great addition to smoothies for health reasons too, with lots of fiber, vitamin c, and other nutrients. Here is the recipe from Dr. Li:

Immune-Boosting Smoothie:

• 1 guava
• 1 cup pomegranate seeds (or pure pomegranate juice)
• 1 teaspoon black raspberry powder
• 1/4 cup coconut milk
• 1/4 cup crushed ice

Instructions:

Rinse the guava and slice in half, then scoop out the flesh and puree in blender until smooth (you can remove the seeds for a more silky texture in your smoothie).

Add the remaining ingredients and fully blend, then serve immediately in glasses.

Tips:

Guava fruit is usually green, and starts to look a little more yellow or even tinged with pink when it is ripe. You can also check and see if the fruit is soft to the touch (think of a more firm avocado). Guava fruit comes in a ton of varieties and sizes, so don't be surprised if guavas at your local supermarket look different! We find the seeds can be extremely hard, but both the seeds and skin of the guava are edible.

One shortcut we used when making this recipe was to buy pomegranate seeds in the frozen fruit section. Frozen fruit is great in smoothies, and with pomegranates it really saves a lot of time not having to take the seeds out ourselves! 

 

Lean more about healthy foods from Dr. William Li:

If you are interested in learning more about these ingredients and a whole bunch of other foods you can add to your diet to improve your health, Dr. Li is offering a free online class that you can sign up for in the link below:

 

 

 

2020 Holiday Shipping Hours December 24 2020, 0 Comments

Hello and Happy Holidays to everyone! We hope the end of the year finds you all in good health, and we are certainly looking forward to the start of the new year as well.

Our team is taking a some time off, so we will not be available to answer customer calls or ship your orders on the following dates:

• December 24th-25th, 2020
• December 31st, 2020 and January 1st, 2021

We also know that some shipping times have been very slow recently. Unfortunately it looks like the USPS has been getting hit extra hard this holiday season and we are seeing some long delays. Luckily, shipping times are already starting to get better, but we sincerely apologize for the delays.

See you in 2021!

-The BerriHealth Team

Dr. William Li has great things to say about black raspberries! October 24 2020, 0 Comments

Dr. William Li is a physician, scientist, and CEO of the Angiogenesis Foundation, and has been a friend of black raspberries and BerriHealth since he first reached out to us back in 2010. We have always loved Dr. Li's ability to communicate and educate about food and health, and the work he has done on angiogenesis. We even shared his TED Talk in one of our first newsletters back in 2011!

He also published a book last year, titled Eat to Beat Disease. Our team has had a chance to read through it, and it offers a wide breadth of knowledge on what we know about how food can affect health, and also a simple "5x5x5" system to help make positive changes in selecting the foods you eat. 

With all of the time he has invested into researching healthy foods, it was pretty neat to see him recommend our products in a couple of posts he made recently on his blog. You can read the whole thing here, but we think this is a pretty good summary of how he feels about black raspberries:

 "Because of their health benefits, I aim to eat black raspberries every day."

We truly believe that eating healthy doesn't just have to be about what you don't eat, but what you do. Dr. Li's book is a great resource for helping us all find healthy additions to our meals.

Because of this, we are giving away 10 copies of his book! All you have to do to enter is send your email to service@berrihealth.com, with a subject line referencing our book giveaway, and your name will be added to a drawing for one copy of Dr. Li's book. (Please note this book giveaway was in 2020 and is closed now.)

Official stuff: No purchase necessary, and winners will be drawn on November 10th. We will contact winners to get shipping information after that point. This giveaway is available to individuals located in the U.S. only. We will not use any of your information supplied for this giveaway for any purpose other than this giveaway.

Links:

The Angiogenesis Foundation - https://angio.org/
Dr. Li's Personal Site and Blog - https://drwilliamli.com/
Eat to Beat Disease - https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Beat-Disease-Science-Itself/dp/1538714620/

An Update on BerriHealth and COVID-19 March 30 2020, 0 Comments

Last Updated: November 18th, 2020

We wanted to reiterate that unfortunately COVID-19 remains a major issue, and we are continuing to take steps to keep our employees, partners, and customers safe. Our shipping warehouse is limiting staffing to make sure we follow all safety guidelines, so packages are still taking a bit longer to get out the door, especially during the holiday season. Please expect your order to take around two business days to ship. We know it's a lot longer than usual, but in the long run we believe that extra precautions now are the best way to approach this coming winter.

 

March 30th, 2020

Steve recently sent out a letter to our customers letting everyone know how we are handling the current COVID-19 situation, what it means for us, and how it affects our customers. We wanted to share that letter here, as well as keep you up to date on new developments as they come in. Please find the contents of the letter below:

As the COVID-19 situation continues to develop, I wanted to give you an update on what is going on at BerriHealth.

Our number one priority is the safety of our customers and employees. We are constantly staying up-to-date on the latest guidance from the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, as well as from our local and federal governments. Luckily, as a small online business, we are well set up to work from home and practice social distancing. We have also put in additional cleaning and sanitization steps as we ship our products to you from our local warehouse.

So what does all this mean?

The good news is that for our U.S. customers, even under increased restrictions, we are able to continue shipping products to you. Because we are taking extra care with each order, it might take a little longer to get out the door. We have also noticed longer delivery times by the USPS, so please leave some extra time for delivery when you place your order.

Unfortunately, in the short term we are no longer shipping internationally (with the exception of Canada) due to major shortages in the availability of air freight. I am truly sorry for the inconvenience and look forward to being able to offer international shipping again, hopefully in the near future.

Our whole team is, as always, so thankful for the community of great customers we have gotten to know over the years. We will continue to update you as any changes come in. In the meantime, we are here for you if you have any questions, or just want to share a new smoothie recipe or say hello. As a small business, your support and messages mean so much to us.

Stay safe and healthy as we all work together to get through these challenging times.
 

Steve Dunfield
President
Berri Products LLC

 

 

Why Spring Gets Us Buzzing With Excitement for Bees May 30 2017, 1 Comment

It's the end of May here in Oregon and these bees are hard at work pollinating our black raspberries. Without them, many foods we are used to seeing on our plates every day wouldn't exist! Here is a quote from a recent USA Today article:

"One in every three bites of food, van Engelsdorp said, is directly or indirectly pollinated by honeybees, who pollinate about $15 billion worth of U.S. crops each year."

So we really owe a lot to bees like this one:

Our partner farm is home to the Oregon Berry Bee Project, whose goal is to help bolster the dwindling population of native Oregon Berry Bees by setting up safe and symbiotic homes for them on berry farms. Sturm’s farm was chosen for this in part because they do not use any pesticides or other chemicals on the berries. Bees can be harmed by even trace amounts of chemicals. Don has personally helped with various parts of this project, from building bird-safe shelters for the bees, to installing webcams for scientists around the country to monitor bee activity. The Oregon Berry Bee Project also benefits the farm. Here is a quote from their project website:

“Using native solitary bees for pollination fits well into the sustainable agriculture practices on the Sturm farm. The Sturms do not use any insecticides on their berries. Beneficial insect populations have been sufficient in the absence of insecticides to control insect pests. The lack of insecticides makes the farm a favorable place for pollinators as well. Because they offer pesticide-free berries, they have developed a large customer base who we hope will appreciate native solitary bees for pollination.”

The Sturms have partnered with OBBP since 2007 and the project is continuing with good success in 2011. Sturm’s Berry Farm provides a safe haven for the bees to thrive and pollinate cane berry bushes, and according to the researchers involved, “it is clear that these bees are doing well” in their new home.

Don’s farm is also home to many honey bees from local beekeepers. Honey gets flavor from the flowers the bees collect pollen from, so berry farms are a natural location for businesses looking to harvest and sell honey locally. Most beekeepers have to move the bees off of farms when pesticides are being sprayed because the bees are very sensitive to any chemicals. On Sturm’s Berry Farm, the bees can stay on location due to the lack of any harsh insecticides being sprayed.

Rich and Creamy Black Raspberry Ice Cream May 27 2017, 0 Comments

Super Simple Black Raspberry Ice Cream

Now that the weather is finally starting to warm back up, it's always a good excuse to indulge in ice cream! This black raspberry ice cream could not be simpler. There's no need to cook and strain any berries. Instead, we used our Black Raspberry Extract. No extra work required, and the taste is pure, sweet and delicious!

 Here's how we made it:

 Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole milk
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 (more or less to your taste) teaspoons BerriHealth's Black Raspberry Extract
• 4 ounces chopped semisweet chocolate (add more or less if you like and save some to sprinkle on top)

 

Directions:

Combine milk, sugar and salt in a medium bowl.  Whisk the ingredients together until the sugar has completely dissolved. Add the cream, vanilla and Black Raspberry Extract and stir with a rubber spatula until nicely blended. Now cover the bowl and pop it in the refrigerator for 2 hours or overnight is fine too. After the cream mixture has chilled, pour it in your ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Toward the end of the churning cycle, add the chopped chocolate.  Serve immediately for a soft ice cream or freeze for a couple of hours for a firmer ice cream. Top with some chopped or shaved chocolate. Simply delicious!

Now, if you have a bit more time and want a creamier custard, try this recipe from the New York Times: The Master Ice Cream Recipe.  Blend in about 6 - 8 teaspoons of Black Raspberry extract (you can always add more!) before putting the cream mixture in the refrigerator. Be sure to check out the video for great tips on making ice cream: How to Make the Recipe Video

 

 Enjoy!

 

 

Carol's "Secret" Mixed Berry Pie February 07 2017, 0 Comments

There’s a “secret” ingredient in this berry pie. It’s BerriHealth’s Black Raspberry Extract. Carol added 2 teaspoons of extract to her usual mixed berry pie recipe. It was like adding about 80 black raspberries to her pie! The flavor was naturally sweet, rich and oh so luscious. Try adding a couple of teaspoons to your next berry pie recipe or check out Carol's recipe below:

Carol's "Secret" Mixed Berry Pie

Ingredients:

• Double crust for a 9 inch pie 
• About 5 cups of Frozen Mixed Berries
• ¾ cup sugar
• ¼ cup Minute Tapioca (more or less depending on juiciness of the berries)
• ½ tsp of Almond Extract
• Juice from one fresh lemon
• “Secret” Ingredient - 2 tsps or 12 droppers of BerriHealth’s Black Raspberry Extract (You can always add more extract for even more flavor!)
• 2 Tbs of Butter
• Milk or cream to brush on lattice-top crust
• Sugar to sprinkle on top crust

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 450℉ and put the rack in the lower third of the oven. Roll out and ease the pie dough into your 9 inch pie plate. Put in refrigerator while you make the filling.

Mix the berries, sugar, Minute Tapioca, almond extract and lemon juice in a large bowl. Drizzle BerriHealth’s Black Raspberry Extract over the berries and gently mix together. Leave the berry mixture on your countertop for about 30 minutes or until they release some juice. Pour the berry mixture into your prepared pie plate. Dot the top of the filling with 2 tablespoons of butter.

Now, roll out the dough for the lattice-top crust. Weave the strips, trim and seal the edges. Brush the lattice-top with cream and sprinkle with sugar.

Put the pie in a 450℉ oven in the bottom third of the oven for about 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, turn down the oven to 375℉. Bake the pie for another 30 - 40 minutes or until the filling starts to bubble throughout the pie (including the middle). If the top starts to brown too much, cover it loosely with some foil. Remove from oven when done and place on cooling rack. 

Let the pie cool completely before serving. Then enjoy! 

Black Raspberry and Purple Kale Smoothie - An Anthocyanin Rich Treat November 01 2016, 1 Comment

 

Anthocyanins provide the beautiful array of colors we see in autumn leaves, and certain types also happen to be the powerful antioxidants that researchers believe may keep our cells working like they should. As you can see below, black raspberries are full of these amazing molecules:

Black Raspberry and Purple Kale Smoothie

We love to find creative ways to add vegetables to smoothies. In this case, purple kale not only adds healthy fiber to a tasty snack, but it also contains anthocyanins which gives the leafy veggie it's signature dark-purple look. Try it out!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 2 teaspoons BerriHealth's Black Raspberry Powder or 1 tsp Black Raspberry Extract
• 2 dates
• a handful or so of purple kale with stems removed
• 1 banana fresh or frozen in slices or chunks
• 5 ice cubes
• 1/2 cup orange juice (a total of 1 cup of orange juice)

Directions:

• Place the ingredients in a blender in the order listed.  
• Start on low speed and increase to high until your drink is smooth and delicious.

This recipe is easy to change to fit your tastes.  A little more kale, a different juice or try some almond milk instead. Let your imagination guide you and enjoy your creation!

 

Black Raspberry Popsicles - A Labor Day Weekend Treat! August 28 2016, 0 Comments

We have had a hot summer out here in Oregon, and we constantly find ourselves looking for healthy, tasty treats to stay cool. These frosty black raspberry pops play that role perfectly, and are simple to make, too. Just add 1 or 2 teaspoons of Freeze-dried Black Raspberry Powder or Black Raspberry Extract to your favorite popsicle recipe and voila, you've packed each pop with a nutritious and delicious flavor boost!

 

Black Raspberry Bran Muffins August 28 2016, 0 Comments

There is something about a basket of warm muffins that just feels welcoming and comfortable. Add some butter, jam and cups of coffee or tea and you're all set to say good morning to house guests. Or wrap a muffin in a napkin and gobble it in the car on your way to work.  Quick or relaxed, a muffin is always a handful of love. Now, if you can make that muffin full of healthy goodness, all the better.  

We made moist bran muffins from an America's Test Kitchen recipe, but instead of raisins, we added BerriHealth's Whole/Pieces Freeze-dried Black Raspberries. The result was a yummy, "molassesy,"  bundle of goodness, loaded with fiber from the whole wheat flour, bran cereal and of course, black raspberries. 

The recipe calls for 1 cup of raisins that we substituted with about 2 cups of our freeze-dried whole black raspberries. We also added about 1/2 cup of water to the wet ingredients. This made about 15 muffins. The end result was a muffin with an attitude of, "I'm not some wimpy muffin. I've got tons of fiber and I taste delicious, too!"

Try substituting our Whole/Pieces Freeze-dried Black Raspberries into your favorite recipe that calls for dried fruit. They are full of all the powerful nutrients that the black raspberry is known for and they have the added benefit of lots of fiber and great flavor!

6 Reasons to Choose BerriHealth's Black Raspberry Powder Instead of Capsules February 19 2016, 0 Comments

Our team at Berrihealth is all about growing the best black raspberries so we can create amazing, authentic products with them. One product we've never made are black raspberry capsules, which are filled with small amounts of black raspberry powder and sold in a variety of health food stores and online. We've outlined plenty of economic and scientific reasons why not on a previous post, but we were curious just what people were getting inside these black raspberry capsules. We decided to crack open black raspberry capsules from three leading companies and take a look at the powder. Quite frankly, the results shocked us:

To have an effective black raspberry powder, you've got to start with a great black raspberry. Here at Berrihealth we have an exceptional partner in Sturm's Berry Farm, a family-run farm that has been harvesting black raspberries for over 70 years!  Each summer, we take these carefully cultivated whole berries, including the seeds, pulp, fiber and skin, to create our premium black raspberry powder.

So how do you know if you are getting the good stuff? Well, a good black raspberry powder should look, smell, and taste like a black raspberry!

Reason Number 1: The color is important.  As you can see above, there is a ton of variation in color between what is inside these 3 capsules and our authentic black raspberry powder. Black raspberries are full of dark-colored pigments called anthocyanins, which are powerful antioxidants and are one of the key healthy compounds found in the berry. The dark burgundy color typically associated with those anthocyanins is clearly missing in the capsules we looked at.

Reason Number 2: the whole berry matters. If you want all the benefits of black raspberries, you need to have the whole berry, including the seeds and fiber! The easiest way to find this out is to see how well a company knows what is going into their products. Ask them where they get their berries, and if they use whole berries to produce their powders. Another easy clue is by reading the back label of the package and checking the fiber content on the facts chart.    

Reason Number 3: it should actually taste like a black raspberry! Authentic black raspberries should have an intense, rich fruity flavor with just a little tartness. The powder we tasted from capsules 1 through 3 ranged from bland to downright unpalatable and chalk-like. Taste is a great way to test the quality of the black raspberry powder you are taking, and even help judge if it is actually made from authentic black raspberries.

So a lot of these capsules aren't very good, but why aren't we making capsules?

The bottom line is, we don't think that capsules are what is best for our customers, so we don't make them. Our complete stance on black raspberries can be found in another blog post that outlines reasons 4, 5, and 6: Debunking 3 Black Raspberry Capsule Myths. 

Essentially, the average capsule contains the equivalent of only 1 1/2 berries, meaning you would need to take over 13 capsules to equal 4 grams of our powder. That's a lot of capsules. Plus the cost of the capsules can end up being over 3 times that of our black raspberry powder! Lastly, taking the powder in an encapsulated form greatly diminishes the effectiveness of the berry, because it does not have direct contact with the areas in the upper GI region of your body. 

We hope this has given you six good reasons to really think about how you are taking your black raspberry powder, and where you are getting it from! Just like when you buy fruit at a farmer's market, quality and authenticity matter.

 

Learn More About the Family Behind Sturm's Berry Farm January 19 2016, 0 Comments

Don and Rosie Sturm, along with their family pictured to the left (Picture from Country Folks Grower), have run Sturm’s Berry Farm out in Corbett, Oregon for decades. Their family farm has been passed down from generation to generation since the 1940s, and they have been growing black raspberries for just about as long. These days, their son and daughter help keep things running too, and while their grandchildren are still a little too young to be doing much work around the farm, they are always a joy to have around.

Sturm's Berry Farm was one of the key ingredients to the founding of Berrihealth back in 2009. The time and care they put into growing black raspberries gave us the opportunity to create pure black raspberry powders to use in clinical trials when berries from other sources did not meet their quality standards. The special berries on this farm, along with our strict quality control and testing methods, have helped BerriHealth become the leading supplier of black raspberries for research. 

We couldn't be more thankful to have them as a part of our company, and want to share this amazing article from Country Folks Grower, "Black Raspberries are good medicine at Sturm's Berry Farm." It gives a nice look at both the family and the farm. 

5 Great Gift Ideas for this Holiday Season! December 09 2015, 0 Comments

Are you looking for some unique AND healthy gift ideas? Check these out…..

1. A smoothie kit! Many of us own some form of blender, but a lot of times they will sit unused because we get tired of the same old smoothies! Of course our black raspberry powder would be a great addition, but also get creative with spices like ginger or cinnamon. They can add a nice kick to any smoothie and are healthy too.
2. A smoothie recipe book and a bag of one of our freeze-dried powders is another great way to help someone you love kick off the new year. Tie a ribbon around them and you are giving a gift that is sure to inspire some delicious smoothies!
3. If you are looking to give something warm and decadent this winter, wrap up a mug, your favorite hot chocolate mix, some marshmallows and a bottle of our Black Raspberry Extract. Tuck in a card with our recipe for Black Raspberry Hot Chocolate and you’ve got a unique gift that is sure to warm anyone’s heart.
4. BerriHealth’s Black Raspberry Extract is so delicious and easy to add to drinks, that you can pair it with lots of drinking vessels. Everything from a teacup to a set of ice tea glasses or wine glasses (here are our Black Raspberry Ice Tea and Black Raspberry Cocktail recipes).
5. Lastly for a perfect stocking stuffer, tie a beautiful bow around a Black Raspberry extract bottle or pop it into a festive gift pouch and you truly have a special gift that is both delicious AND healthy!

What a Quote about Black Raspberries! December 03 2015, 0 Comments

When there are so many studies being done on black raspberries each year, sometimes we find great research that we didn't bring enough attention to when it first came out. This study on the Antioxidant Capacity and Phenolic Phytochemicals in Black Raspberries gives a great overview of some of the reasons why black raspberries are a uniquely healthy berry!

Check out this quote:

“Black raspberries are an excellent source of antioxidants in the human diet. With 10 or more times the antioxidant capacity than many other fruits and vegetables, even a small quantity of black raspberries added to the diet can significantly increase total antioxidant consumption. As few as four average sized berries (2.5 g each) has a greater antioxidant capacity than 100g (3.5 oz.) of many fruits and vegetables. With this level of antioxidant power, black raspberries can be an affordable, low-calorie source of antioxidant in anyone’s diet.”

Quoted from:  Heidemarie Gansch1, Courtney A.Weber2 and Chang Y. Lee1
1Department of Food Science & Technology, 
2Department of Horticultural Sciences, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, NY

Many studies have shown an association between diets high in fruits and vegetables and a lower incidence of some degenerative diseases. Plants high in antioxidants, like anthocyanins, are believed to help protect our bodies by neutralizing unstable oxygen molecules, which can damage our cells. Anthocyanins are the deep blue, purple and red color pigments in plants. Berries, especially raspberries, are great sources for anthocyanins. In this study from Cornell, they found that the black raspberry is loaded, really loaded, with anthocyanins compared to most other fruits and vegetables.

Take a look at this chart from the study:

While black raspberries are so much more than just high in antioxidants, they are a great way to get some extra healthy nutrition in your daily diet, and our powders and extracts make it even easier to get powerful black raspberries year-round.

 

 

A Fast, Delicious and Nutritious Protein Shake February 03 2015, 0 Comments

 

Black Raspberry Chocolate Protein Shake

Fast, delicious and nutritious!  The black raspberry chocolate protein shake is sure to become your go-to drink in the morning. Two scoops of chocolate protein powder, 3 teaspoons of black raspberry powder and about a cup of your favorite milk.  A quick whirl with an immersion blender and you're done!

Want to take it to the next level?  Add a half of a frozen banana, ½ cup of frozen berries, ½ cup of Greek yogurt and a teaspoon of chia seeds.  Mix it in a blender and you’re ready to head out the door to work or a work out.

The great thing about our black raspberry powder is all the prep work has been done for you. It’s recipe ready any time. No freezer or refrigeration is needed. Plus, because it is in powder form, your body can absorb so much more of all those great antioxidants and nutrients!

A Very Special Hot Fudge Sauce February 02 2015, 0 Comments

   

Black Raspberry Hot Fudge Sauce

Silky hot fudge cascading over scoops of creamy ice cream. Tuck a chewy brownie or a thick slice of chocolate cake underneath and it's hard to beat that for a dessert!  But if you want to surprise your family and friends with a rich, sweet layer of flavor, try adding our Black Raspberry Extract to your next hot fudge sauce.

Since many people have not had black raspberry, you get to treat them to a unique experience that is absolutely delicious. And as an added bonus, you make a healthier version of hot fudge because black raspberry extract is loaded with nutritious antioxidants and anthocyanins. You serve an indulgent dessert minus the twinges of guilt.

Black Raspberry Hot Fudge Sauce is easy to make. Use your favorite hot fudge recipe and when you’re all done making it, just stir in the black raspberry extract to the warm sauce. How much you add is up to you. For a subtle hint of special sweetness, blend in just a couple of teaspoons. For a complex fruity burst of flavor, add ⅛ - ¼ cup of extract to about 2 cups of sauce. The fun part will be you get to do a lot of taste testing!

Pour this sauce in a jar, tie a bow around it and you have a unique and luscious gift to take to neighbors over the holidays or to your friend's house paired with a container of gourmet ice cream. And for the chocolate lover in your life, you can always give your special someone a jar of this very special hot fudge sauce on Valentine's Day!  

 

A Winter Classic With a Twist December 16 2014, 0 Comments

Sometimes a mug of hot chocolate is just the thing to warm everyone up on a cold winter day. There aren't many better ways to cut through the chill than clutching a steaming mug close, and watching floating marshmallows slowly melt into the rich creamy chocolate. Yes, we love hot chocolate! We have always been creative with hot chocolate, mixing in anything from peppermint sticks to chili powder.  Over the last few years, one of our favorites has been adding some Black Raspberry Extract to our drink which makes it taste like a gourmet indulgence.  It's also a healthy addition, which we can't say about a lot of our tasty treats during the holiday season!

To make Black Raspberry Hot Chocolate, you can simply add a teaspoonful of extract to your favorite packaged mix.  Or, if you feel more ambitious, here's a hot chocolate recipe that can easily be whipped up on a chilly afternoon:

Black Raspberry Hot Chocolate

Backpacking to Broken Top Mountain September 04 2014, 0 Comments

We spent our Labor Day Weekend taking a quick backpacking trip to Broken Top mountain here in Oregon. You can see that our friend's golden retriever, Cooper, was the only one daring enough to take an icy dunk in the glacial waters we were hiking by.

Everything we packed had to be light and compact, since we had to carry it all ourselves! A pack of black raspberry powder was an easy choice to bring along, giving us a healthy and delicious addition to our morning oatmeal.