Botanical atlas
Clove Currant
Ribes odoratum
Long before it graced ornamental gardens, clove currant fed people. Plains tribes including the Lakota and Cheyenne gathered the deep purple berries in late summer, eating them fresh, drying them for winter stores, and pounding them into pemmican alongside dried meat and fat. Early travelers on the Missouri River, including members of the Lewis and Clark expedition, took note of the shrub's unmistakable clove-scented blossoms and the sweet-tart fruit that followed. Settlers later carried it into home orchards and hedgerows, prizing it as both a food plant and a fragrant, easy-care ornamental.
In tradition.
Long before it graced ornamental gardens, clove currant fed people. Plains tribes including the Lakota and Cheyenne gathered the deep purple berries in late summer, eating them fresh, drying them for winter stores, and pounding them into pemmican alongside dried meat and fat. Early travelers on the Missouri River, including members of the Lewis and Clark expedition, took note of the shrub's unmistakable clove-scented blossoms and the sweet-tart fruit that followed. Settlers later carried it into home orchards and hedgerows, prizing it as both a food plant and a fragrant, easy-care ornamental.
Traditional preparations.
A traditional way of preserving the tart-sweet berries as a pantry staple, stirred into water, tea, or drizzled over food.
Simmer 1 cup of ripe or dried berries with 1 cup of water for about 15 minutes until soft, mash and strain out the solids, then warm the liquid with an equal amount of honey until just combined. Store in a sealed jar in the refrigerator.
A mild, fruity infusion that has traditionally been enjoyed simply as a warming, vitamin-rich beverage.
Steep 1 tablespoon of dried berries, lightly crushed, in 250 ml of just-boiled water for 8 to 10 minutes, then strain.
Safety.
The berries are a safe, traditional food eaten fresh, dried, or cooked into jams; unripe berries are tart and better cooked than eaten raw.
Our sister app HerbLens identifies clove currant from a photo and keeps its full botanical portrait: growing guide, harvest notes, and look-alike warnings.
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