Raspberries

History & Origins

Raspberries have been enjoyed by humans for over 2,000 years, with the first written records coming from ancient Rome!

Wild raspberries were first discovered by cave people during the Stone Age, and the seeds have been found in archaeological sites throughout Europe!

Native Americans used raspberry leaves to make special tea, which they’ve been drinking for thousands of years!

The word “raspberry” comes from an Old English word “raspis,” which referred to a sweet rose-colored wine!

King Edward I of England was the first to encourage raspberry cultivation throughout England in the 13th century!

The first raspberry nursery was established in New York in 1771, helping raspberries spread across America!

Medieval European castles often had raspberry gardens to make special medicines and sweet treats for royal families!

In ancient times, people believed raspberry bushes could keep away evil spirits, so they planted them around their homes!

Science & Making

A raspberry isn’t actually a single berry — it’s made up of lots of tiny individual berries called “drupelets”!

Each raspberry has between 100 and 120 tiny drupelets, all working together to make one delicious fruit!

Raspberry plants can live and produce fruit for up to 15 years if they’re well taken care of!

Raspberry bushes have special thorns called “prickles” that protect the berries from animals who might want to eat them!

When a raspberry is perfectly ripe, it will gently pull away from its white core, leaving a hollow center!

Raspberry plants need to experience cold weather (called “chilling hours”) to produce fruit the next summer!

Raspberries have tiny hairs on their surface that help protect them from water and insects!

The red color in raspberries comes from special plant chemicals called “anthocyanins” that are super good for you!

Ingredients & Nutrition

One cup of raspberries contains more fiber than three slices of whole wheat bread!

Raspberries are made up of about 86% water, making them a perfect hydrating summer snack!

A single serving of raspberries (about 1 cup) contains only 64 calories but provides 54% of your daily vitamin C needs!

Raspberries have more antioxidants than almost any other fruit, making them a real superhero food!

The seeds in raspberries contain omega-3 oils, the same healthy fats found in fish!

Raspberries are naturally sweet but have one of the lowest sugar contents of all fruits!

The leaves of raspberry plants are packed with minerals like calcium and iron, which is why they’re used to make healthy tea!

Global Varieties

There are over 200 different species of raspberries growing around the world!

Black raspberries are a special variety that grows wild in North America and tastes different from red ones!

In Japan, they grow special purple raspberries that look like jewels!

In Scotland, they grow special yellow raspberries that taste like honey!

Russian farmers grow special cold-resistant raspberries that can survive temperatures as low as -40°F!

In Chile, they grow raspberries during Christmas time because their seasons are opposite to North America!

Australian scientists have developed a white raspberry that doesn’t stain your clothes!

In China, they grow a special variety of raspberry that climbs like a vine and can reach 3 feet (1 meter) high!

Fun and Unique Facts

If you lined up all the raspberries grown in one year, they would circle the Earth about 118 times!

Raspberry juice was used as a natural red food coloring in ancient Rome!

Birds can’t taste the sweetness in raspberries — they just like the bright color!

As of 2023, the most raspberries ever eaten in one minute is 95 berries.

Some perfumes use raspberry scent because the fruit contains the same chemical that makes roses smell sweet!

There’s a special computer named “Raspberry Pi” that helps kids learn about computers and coding!

National Raspberry Cake Day is celebrated on July 31st in the United States.

Raspberry plants can grow new roots from their branches if they touch the ground!

Raspberries are classified as a type of fruit called “aggregate fruit” because they come from multiple tiny flowers that fuse together.

Raspberries are part of the rose family, which means they’re cousins to roses and other fruits like strawberries and blackberries.

The main ingredients in raspberries are water, sugar, and fiber, making them juicy and refreshing!

The scientific name for raspberries is Rubus idaeus.

When you pick a raspberry, it comes off its stem cleanly, which is a special feature called “receptacle”!

When you cook raspberries, their natural sugars become even sweeter, which is why they’re perfect for jams and desserts!

There are red, black, golden, and even purple raspberries – each variety has its own unique flavor!

Purple raspberries are a hybrid of red and black raspberries, and they’re sweeter than red raspberries!

Golden raspberries are yellow when ripe and are sweeter than their red cousins!

Young raspberry plants can grow up to an inch per day during the summer!

You can grow raspberries indoors in special containers, and they’ll produce fruit all year round!