Currants are thornless upright shrubs which yield glossy red or black berries, depending on the species. In order to be classified as a currant, the bush must be in the genus Ribes. Native to the Northern Hemisphere, currants have been cultivated throughout Europe and Asia for centuries. In the United States, commercial cultivation of currants was banned until 2003, due to concerns that they could harbor a disease which had the potential to devastate American timber stocks. For this reason, most Americans confuse Zante raisins with currants.

A true currant grows in a shrub form, and is extremely hardy. Currants also have a strong will to live, and have been known to propagate themselves from cuttings. Most USDA zones are friendly to currants, which thrive under lower light conditions. As long as they are protected from a hard freeze with plenty of mulch around their roots, currants will live to bear fruit year after year. The plants are also used decoratively in some gardens.

The best time for currants is June through August. The berries should be plump, glossy, and a little bit firm when they are purchased, and can be stored for up to three days under refrigeration. The fresh, tart flavor is excellent in fresh fruit dishes, and can also be used to make jams and preserves. Currants also lend themselves well to savory dishes, as the tart flavor makes a strong contrast. The berries are high in vitamin C, phosphorus, calcium, and iron.

The dried fruits sold at many grocery stores as “currants” are actually dried Zante raisins from Greece. It is believed that the name “currant” is a corruption of “Corinth,” and may originate from the date that the raisins were first imported into the United States in the 1920s. The raisins are much smaller and more flavorful than conventional raisins, and are a popular addition to currant cake and other slightly savory dessert items.

The ban on currants was put in place in 1911, out of concerns about White Pine Blister Rust, which uses currants as an alternate host. It was believed that eradicating currants would help with the problem. Greg Quinn, a farmer in New York state, helped to overturn the ban in 2003 with the assistance of state lawmakers. Quinn believed that currants could revitalize family farms in New York state by providing a source of income through a somewhat unusual berry. He also helped to breed varieties of currant which would be resistant to the parasitic White Pine Blister Rust, demonstrating that currants could be cultivated without threatening the American timber industry.