Blackberries and black raspberries—not the same

Donna GreenFamily and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University ExtensionGrowing up, I ate my fair share of black raspberries. They are very hard to find these days; most of the darker colored berries in the grocery store are blackberries. Now, you're probably sitting there scratching your head and asking "Whatchu talking about, Willis?" Unfortunately, most people don't realize that there are two distinct "black berry" choices.Don't feel bad if you didn't know the difference; even some food companies and nutritionists don't realize that these are two different food items. Yes, they are both berries, and yes, they are both black. But there are distinct taste and nutritional differences between the two.BlackberriesPhysical Description: Blackberries are bigger; with large single cells that bulge out more than the cells in a black raspberry. They have a "plug" where the stem attaches to the berry — they are not hollow inside like a black raspberry. The berry appears more shiny or glossy than a black raspberry.Taste: Less tart than a red raspberry, and also much sweeter.Health: Blackberries definitely provide health benefits, but do not contain the same levels of antioxidants and anthocyanins as black raspberries. They have higher levels of natural sugars, which can be an issue for people with diabetes. They haven't been studied as much as black raspberries.Black RaspberriesPhysical Description: Looks like a red raspberry only black. Farmers call them blackcaps because when the berry comes off the bush, they are hollow inside (no plug). The individual cells of the berry are small and do not protrude or stick out like the ones on a blackberry; blackberries look more bumpy.Taste: More fruity than a blackberry. They contain less sugar, so are not as sweet. Black raspberries have a unique taste that is not really similar to any other berry.Health: Black raspberries are one of the healthiest berries on the planet. They are lower in sugar than most berries and also contain a lot of fiber, around 8 grams per cup. They contain large amounts of anthocyanins, and three times the antioxidants found in blackberries. They have been highly researched in the area of cancer prevention.Berry ComparisonNutritionally, plant foods can be measured to see how many antioxidants a specific serving of food will provide. Used by the USDA, it's called an ORAC score, which stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (how many free radical cells can those antioxidants sweep up or absorb).Black raspberries lead the "berry" pack when it comes to antioxidant content. See if you can find some at the farm market this summer, or better yet, start a plant in your home garden.