Is it a Jostaberry?

[Kitty13]

Hi Everyone,

This is my first post and i hope you'll be able to help me. We have a couple of large berry bushes in our garden and i've no idea what they are. Obviously i want to be able to identify them as it would be wonderful if they were edible. Before i realised the Jostaberry existed, i would have described the berry as a cross between a blackcurrant and a gooseberry, on searching, i've found that this is what the Jostaberry is, but of course i want to make sure it couldn't be anything else that would do me some harm.

It's a large bush about 5-6 foot high. The leaves are exactly, exactly the same as a red currant or blackcurrant. The berries are slightly larger that a blackcurrant but the same colour, not completly round, slightly pointed at one end, with a kind of "beard" at the other. They also have tiny coarse hairs on them like a gooseberry.

Any thoughts on what it could be? I'm afraid i can't post any pics as my camera has no battery. Do you think it's a jostaberry? Is there anything else it could be? I have a blackcurrant, and it's not one of those, the berries are too different.

[gojiberry]

Does it look like a gooseberry, as the jostaberry looks like a pale purple gooseberry and tastes more like a gooseberry, tasting slightly blackcurrant when fully ripe. There is another cross called aronia which looks more like a large blackcurrant. Not sure of the taste as only just ordered one. If you go online to DT Browns website you will get a picture and description of both.

Ian

[realfood]

Does your bush have spines? When you crush a leaf in your hand what does it smell of?
If you have a look on my web site for Jostaberry and Wocesterberry, you will see photos and descriptions.
Jostaberries and Worcesterberries are extremely dark when they are ripe, and about the same size as blackcurrants. Picked mine last week.

[Kitty13]

Thanks for your replies. The leaves don't smell of anything when crushed, just "leafy" I would say the colour of the berry is more black like a blackcurrant, rather than a red variety gooseberry. But the shape is more that of a gooseberry, not exactly round, with little coare hairs on them. I'll have a look at the places you've suggested and see if i can spot them.

[Kitty13]

Does your bush have spines? When you crush a leaf in your hand what does it smell of?
If you have a look on my web site for Jostaberry and Wocesterberry, you will see photos and descriptions.
Jostaberries and Worcesterberries are extremely dark when they are ripe, and about the same size as blackcurrants. Picked mine last week.

Sorry, what's your website called?

[lottie dolly]

hi kitty13,welcome to the friendly land of knowledge,
ref,realfoods web site,
go to the forum name top left,clic,scrowl down to,realfoods home page,and then the top bar will link you to soft fruits,you can then look and see what yours are like,hope this helps,