Gooseberries: Tiny fruits with exclusive clubs dedicated to them
Whenever you hear of gooseberry, you associate this tiny, sour green fruit with small hair with the bird goose, right? Truth be told, there is no connection between the two. Originally it was known as ‘gorseberry.’ Gorse, in English, means rough and this fruit used to grow on rough shrubs. Hence, the name. European and American gooseberries belong to the Ribes (currant) genus, which also includes the smaller and more delicate black, red, and white currants. They are very different from other gooseberries, such as the Chinese gooseberry or kiwi fruit, the Indian gooseberry or Malacca Tree, the Cape gooseberry or Peruvian groundcherry and the Barbados gooseberry. The last one is a type of climbing cactus.
Gooseberries come with a long history. Extremely popular throughout Europe, they were first grown in English and Dutch gardens in the 16th century. There’s a lot about this tangy fruit, that we bet you aren’t aware of. Read on to know more.
Gooseberry cultivation dates back to the 13th century
Yes, that’s right. The first record of gooseberry cultivation can be traced back to the 13th century England. However, it wasn’t until the 1500s that they were widely grown, thanks to increased trade in Europe. By 1831, the London garden of Horticultural Society was home to 360 different gooseberry cultivars. Though ancient, European gooseberries became popular both in Europe and the US during the 19th and 20th centuries.
There are ‘gooseberry clubs’ in UK
The rising popularity of these tiny fruits led to the establishment of various gooseberry clubs all over United Kingdom. They used to sponsor annual competition among their members, gooseberry cultivators, and prizes were offered to the largest and tastiest fruits. This resulted in an increased interest in the cultivation of gooseberries throughout England and Scotland.
These clubs were formed as early as 1740 in Britain. Only two of England's original 170 gooseberry clubs still exist. The oldest one, known as Egton Bridge, was founded in 1801 and is still going strong.
There was even a national publication for gooseberry enthusiasts. Known as ‘The Gooseberry Growers Register’, it registered 171 different gooseberry shows in the year 1845.
The heaviest gooseberry weighs 65 grams
Do you know the average of a normal gooseberry? It hovers somewhere between 3 to 6 grams. But the one that holds world record for being the heaviest weighs 64.8 grams. Grown by Graeme Watson of the United Kingdom, this yellow-coloured gooseberry named Millennium was exhibited in the Egton Bridge Gooseberry Show on August 6, 2019.
Fact file
- Magpie moth, V-moth, and gooseberry sawfly attack cultivated gooseberry plant. These insects consume gooseberry leaves and cause substantial harm to the plant.
- Due to the ancient belief that fairies used gooseberry bushes to hide from danger, gooseberries are also known as ‘fayberries’.
- Gooseberry may yield fruit and live in the wild for at least 20 years.
- During the Middle Ages, the cooling characteristics of the gooseberry fruit were employed to treat fever.
- They were also used to heal patients suffering from plague.
- Gooseberry output fell during World War I, and the fruit never regained its pre-war prominence.