Dewberries

At first glance, dewberries look incredibly similar to their cousin, the blackberry. The main visual distinction between the two is the color. Dewberries have a purple-red hue while blackberries are a deep black color. These are larger than the blackberry when it comes to size. In taste, the blackberry has the edge as it is sweeter while the dewberry is a lot more acidic. Dewberries were widely cultivated at the start of the 20^th century but started going out of fashion when year-round availability of other fruits started with the advent of modern canning and transportation.

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Order: Rosales
• Family: Rosaceae
• Genus: Rubus
• Species: R. flagellares
• Binomial name: Rubus flagellares

Dewberry Trivia

• The famous boysenberry is a hybrid of dewberries, loganberries, and blackberries
• Dewberries can be found almost anywhere in Central to Eastern Texas.
• Dewberries have an extremely short season with a window of anywhere from 2-4 weeks.
• The flowers of the dewberry plant can be used to make tea.

Dewberry Buying Guide

With the popularity of the blackberry, it’s very rare to find dewberries in supermarkets. But don’t worry, they’re very popular in farmers’ markets and pick your own farms. They can also be picked almost anywhere in Central to East Texas as they are a beneficial weed, and they can grow anywhere without any supervision.

Perfectly ripe dewberries are deep red to almost black in color with a reddish hue. Check the fruit for punctures or anything that might indicate that a bug got to it before you. Make sure that the fruit is plump and juicy looking and avoid the ones that are starting to dry out.

Dewberry Production & Farming in Texas

While large scale dewberry production is no longer commonplace in Texas and it is rare to find fresh dewberries in supermarkets, it’s still very common in Texas. It is almost impossible to find an empty field or a hedge without dewberry vines growing on them. Dewberries, if you can get permission, can be picked almost anywhere provided they’re in season. Dewberries are also a popular crop with organic farms and pick your own farming operations as they are very easy to grow, and they thrive readily in Texas.

Pesticides:

Dewberries are native to Texas, and they grow well without the use for any pesticide or need for fertilizer. Farms that sell dewberries are also mostly organic, so you can be assured that the dewberries you’re getting will be organic.

Geography:

Dewberries are very hardy plants that can grow almost anywhere as long as the climate is right. If you’re located anywhere from the Central to Eastern Texas area then you’re in luck, as this is the zone where dewberries thrive the most.

The soil where the dewberry thrives the most has pH levels of 5.6-6.2. The soil should be well-drained, but aside from that, growing dewberries have no special requirements.

Packaging:

You can find some markets selling dewberries in plastic clamshell boxes, but most of the time they are either in wooden crates sold by weight or picked directly from the vines and placed in reusable containers.

Enjoying Dewberries

You can enjoy dewberries like you would its cousin the blackberry. Just give them a quick rinse, and you’re good to go.

Storage:

Freshly picked dewberries can be stored in the fridge for a few days before they start to deteriorate.

To freeze dewberries, freeze them as you would any other berry. First, you should freeze them in a single layer to avoid clumping before transferring to a freezer-safe container. They can last up to a year in the freezer, or until the next dewberry season.

Cooking:

Dewberries can be utilized the way blackberries can be. They are good in pies, jams, tarts, and fruit preserves.

Nutrition:

• Carbs
  • Dewberries are similar to blackberries when it comes to carb content and glycemic index.
    • The glycemic index of Dewberries is estimated to be around 20, which makes it low, and it is relatively safe for people with diabetes to enjoy.
    • A low glycemic index means that consuming dewberries won’t cause your blood sugar to spike up.
    • Be careful when consuming dewberry-based desserts because of the added sugar. Due to its tartness and acidity, dewberry-based pastries have a lot of sugar added to them.
  • Fiber
    • Dewberries are pretty high in fiber, providing up to 20% of the RDI.
      • Fiber helps digestive health by binding with toxins and flushing them out of the body as stool.
      • Soluble fibers help you feel fuller a lot longer, reducing the opportunity to overeat and help you stick to your diet a lot easier.
    • Vitamins and minerals:
      • Dewberries contain high amounts of antioxidants and may help prevent certain types of cancers.
      • Due to its relatively high potassium content, dewberries can also help reduce blood pressure.
      • A mineral that’s also present in the dewberry is zinc. Zinc helps your immune system fight off infections like the cold or the common flu.
      • Dewberries also have significant amounts of Vitamin C, with a serving providing over 50% of the RDI.
        • Vitamin C promotes cell healing and regeneration and is recognized as an excellent antioxidant.

When Are Dewberries in Season in Texas?