Gooseberry Pixwell - Ribes uva-crispa

The Pixwell Gooseberry bush is a self-fertile, productive, vigorous variety, particularly resistant to powdery mildew and cold. It produces elongated fruits with a slightly hairy pink skin that turns wine-coloured when ripe. Their translucent pink flesh is pleasantly fragrant and has a sweet and tangy flavour. The fruiting occurs in July, all along the thorny branches, ensuring a plentiful harvest. The fruits are rich in pectin, perfect for making jellies or jams. They are delicious on their own and their sweet and tangy aroma is wonderful in pastries and as an accompaniment to fish or savoury dishes.

The Pixwell Gooseberry bush (Ribes uva-crispa), also known as the Spiny Gooseberry, Curly Grape, Louse-clapper, Louse-biter, Balloon or Wineberry, belongs to the Grossulariaceae family, like Redcurrant bushes (Ribes rubrum) and Blackcurrant bushes (Ribes nigrum). Cultivated in northern Europe since the 16th century, the Gooseberry bush is a fertile hybrid resulting from the cross-breeding of two species native to Europe and North Africa, still found spontaneously in mounyain forests in Scotland, France, and the Caucasus. It is a spreading, thorny shrub with slightly stiff, branched, and spreading twigs. This very hardy bush reaches a height of 1 m (3ft) with a spread of 75 cm (30in). The foliage is deciduous, composed of palmate, lobed, and aromatic, medium green leaves. This bush resembles classic gooseberries but is mainly distinguished by its fruits which are larger and sweeter along the branches. Apart from a few thornless varieties, the Gooseberry bush has prickly stems. Flowering occurs in spring, in the form of clusters of insignificant greenish flowers, loved by bees. In July, fruiting mainly occurs on one- and two-year-old branches. The bush is then covered with translucent, round to oval, 1.2 cm (1in) in diameter berries resembling marbles and containing small seeds, distributed along the branches. Harvesting place as the fruits ripen, and is made easier by the size of the berries.

The Pixwell Gooseberry bush produces approximately 3 to 5 kg of fruit per plant depending on the age and growing conditions of the plant. The fruits are rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, minerals and trace elements, as well as potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. Moreover, their low sugar content classifies them among the least calorific small fruits (50 kcal per 100 g). The fruit is detoxifying for the body thanks to its diuretic, digestive, liver decongestant, and laxative properties, provided it is consumed when barely ripe.

The fruits of the Pixwell Gooseberry bush are like colourful marbles and a real treat in the summer. Picked from the bush, they are delicious to eat fresh, and for added indulgence, they can be sprinkled with a little granulated sugar. In cooking, to balance the acidity of the fruits, they can be blanched for a minute and then cooled under cold water. Excellent in jellies or jams, they can also be used to garnish tarts and make cakes. They are perfect for making syrups, sorbets, ice creams, or desserts. The subtle balance between the flavours and acidity of the fruits offers an interesting accompaniment to meats (game, poultry, etc.), oily fish (sardines, mackerel, tuna, etc.), or as a touch in salads.

In summer, the Gooseberry bush brings beautiful harvests and delicious fruits, but be careful of the thorns. In the garden, it can be planted alongside other Gooseberry bushes, Raspberry bushes, or other varieties of small fruits to create a delicious hedge.