Common Raspberry

Common Raspberry
Rubus idaeus L.
Family Rosaceae

Raspberry Description

Common raspberry is a perennial suckering subshrub, 0.5–2 m tall, with a creeping, woody rhizome (up to 2 m). Stems are biennial, erect or arching, cylindrical; first-year stems are green, herbaceous, with slender prickles; second-year stems are woody, fruiting, then dying back. Leaves are alternate, compound, odd-pinnate, with 5–7 ovate leaflets (5–10 cm), light green, grayish-tomentose underneath, with a serrated margin; upper leaves are ternate. Flowers are bisexual, greenish-white, 10 mm, in racemose or corymbose-paniculate inflorescences. The fruit is a crimson-red, spherical or conical drupelet, 1–2 cm, sweet-sour, composed of 20–60 small pubescent drupelets with seeds. Flowering occurs in June–September, fruiting in July–August. Common cultivars include 'Meeker', 'Heritage', 'Tulameen', 'Caroline', 'Fallgold' (yellow). It is a good honey plant (up to 60 kg of honey/ha).

 

Habitat and Ecology of Raspberry

Raspberry grows wild in the temperate and northern zones of Europe, Siberia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, up to 2400 m above sea level. It inhabits forest clearings, burnt areas, forest edges, along rivers, on rocky slopes, in moist deciduous forests, sparse spruce forests, and less frequently in pine forests. It is cultivated in gardens and plantations in Europe, North America, and Asia. It prefers loose, fertile soils (pH 5.5–6.5), moderate watering (10–15 l/m² once every 7 days), temperatures of 15–25 °C, and tolerates frosts down to -30 °C. It reproduces by root suckers, cuttings, and seeds. Yield: 1–2 kg/bush. Care includes pruning two-year-old shoots, fertilizing with nitrogen and potassium (30–40 g/m²), and protection against raspberry beetle and anthracnose. Ecologically, it attracts pollinators and improves soil.

 

Raspberry Raw Materials

Raw materials: fruits (fructus Rubi idaei), leaves (folia Rubi idaei), flowers (flores Rubi idaei), rhizomes. Fruits are harvested in July–August in dry weather, after dew, into small baskets, dried at 35–50 °C in a layer of 2.5–3.5 cm (yield 15–18%). Leaves and flowers are collected in June–August, dried in the shade at 30–40 °C (yield 10–12%). Rhizomes are dug up in autumn, dried at 40–50 °C (yield 20–25%). Quality: fruits are grayish-crimson, not clumped (≤4% clumps up to 2 cm), without receptacles (≤2%); leaves are green; rhizomes are mold-free; moisture ≤15%, organic/inorganic impurities ≤0.5%. Store in airtight containers lined with paper (fruits: 1 year, leaves/flowers: 2 years, rhizomes: 2 years). Aromatic odor, sweet-sour taste.

 

Chemical Composition of Raspberry

Fruits: organic acids (3%, salicylic, citric, malic, formic, tartaric), sugars (12%, glucose, fructose, sucrose), pectin (2.8%), ascorbic acid (93 mg%), vitamins (B1, B2, PP, folic acid), carotene, flavonoids (1.4%, quercetin, kaempferol), anthocyanins (cyanidin), catechins, coumarins, sterols (beta-sitosterol), tannins, minerals (K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, P). Leaves: ascorbic acid (260–800 mg%), flavonoids, tannins, phenol glycosides, manganese. Flowers: flavones, ascorbic acid. Seeds: fatty oil (15%), phytosterols (0.7%). Caloric content: 46 kcal/100 g (fruits).

 

Action and Application of Raspberry

Fruits have diaphoretic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and mild diuretic effects due to salicylic acid; they improve digestion, excrete uric acid, and lower cholesterol (beta-sitosterol). Leaves are astringent, antimicrobial, and hemostatic. They are used for colds, flu, bronchitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis, hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes, anemia, diarrhea, dysentery, hemorrhoids, hypermenorrhea, skin rashes, and alcohol intoxication. Externally, infusions of leaves and flowers are used for gargling, acne, eczema, and erysipelis. Fruit syrup improves the taste of mixtures.

 

Precautions for Raspberry Use

Excessive consumption of fruits (>200 g/day) can cause allergies and hypoglycemia. Leaf infusions (>500 ml/day) can increase bleeding due to tannins. Juice (>100 ml/day) can irritate the stomach. Store raw materials at humidity <15%. For children under 3 years, give ≤50 g/day of fruits. Do not combine with anticoagulants without consulting a doctor.

 

Contraindications for Raspberry Use

Individual intolerance, allergy to Rosaceae, gout, urolithiasis (oxalates), peptic ulcer disease, gastritis with high acidity, children under 1 year of age.

 

Raspberry Recipes

1. Fruit Infusion for Colds. Pour 200 ml of boiling water over 20 g of dried fruits, infuse for 20 min, drink 100 ml 3 times a day for 5 days.
   
2. Leaf Decoction for Diarrhea. Boil 15 g of leaves in 300 ml of water for 10 min, drink 50 ml 3 times a day for 7 days.
   
3. Flower Infusion for Sore Throat. Pour 200 ml of boiling water over 10 g of flowers, infuse for 30 min, gargle 3 times a day for 5 days.
   
4. Rhizome Decoction for Bronchial Asthma. Boil 50 g of rhizomes in 500 ml of water for 30 min, drink 50 ml 3 times a day for 10 days.
   
5. Fruit Infusion for Anemia. Pour 200 ml of boiling water over 20 g of dried fruits, infuse for 30 min, drink 70 ml 3 times a day for 14 days.
   
6. Leaf Decoction for Eczema. Boil 20 g of leaves in 400 ml of water for 10 min, use for compresses twice a day for 7 days.
   
7. Raspberry Smoothie. Blend 1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries with 1/2 cup yogurt, 1/4 cup milk, and 1 tbsp honey until smooth. Serve immediately.
   
8. Raspberry Vinaigrette. Whisk together 1/4 cup raspberry puree (strained to remove seeds), 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp white wine vinegar, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Perfect for salads.

 

Raspberry Cosmetics

Raspberry fruits and leaves are used for skin and hair, treating acne and inflammation.

1. Acne Mask. Mash 20 g of fresh fruits, apply to face for 10 min, rinse, twice a week.
   
2. Washing Infusion. Pour 200 ml of boiling water over 15 g of leaves, infuse for 20 min, wipe face, once a day.
   
3. Rash Ointment. Mix 10 ml of leaf juice with 40 g of petroleum jelly, apply to skin, once a day for 7 days.
   
4. Eyelid Lotion. Pour 150 ml of boiling water over 10 g of flowers, infuse for 15 min, wipe eyelids, once a day.
   
5. Hair Rinse for Shine. Infuse 30g fresh raspberry leaves in 500ml hot water for 30 minutes, strain, and use as a final rinse after shampooing for healthy, shiny hair.

 

Raspberry Culinary Uses

Raspberry is used fresh, dried, or frozen for jams, compotes, syrups, jellies, fruit drinks, tinctures, marmalade, pastille, and fillings. Leaves are used as a tea substitute.

1. Jam. 1 kg fruits, 1.2 kg sugar, 200 ml water, cook for 20 min, seal in jars.
   
2. Dessert with Cream. 200 g raspberries, 200 ml milk, 20 g starch, 30 g sugar, 2 egg yolks, cook cream, pour over berries, cool.
   
3. Leaf Tea. Pour 200 ml of boiling water over 10 g of dried leaves, infuse for 10 min, drink with honey, once a day.
   
4. Compote. 300 g fruits, 100 g sugar, 1 liter water, boil for 10 min, serve chilled.
   
5. Raspberry Crumble. Mix 500g fresh raspberries with 50g sugar and 1 tbsp cornstarch. Top with a crumble made from 100g flour, 50g sugar, 50g butter, and bake at 180°C (350°F) for 25-30 minutes until golden and bubbling.
   
6. Raspberry Mousse. Puree 200g raspberries, then fold into whipped cream sweetened with a little sugar and vanilla. Chill until set.

Tips: Use ripe berries for jam, freeze to preserve vitamins.

 

Other Properties of Raspberry

Honey plant, yields up to 60 kg of honey/ha. Leaves are used as a tea substitute. Fruits dye fabrics pink.