The Benefits of Boysenberries & Where To Get Them

Posted on Mar 17, 2016 | 1 comment

Photo courtesy of Knott’s Berry Farm

You know how I am always reminding you to be sure to sample the local foods when traveling, things that you cannot find anywhere else but right where you are at the moment?

Well the Boysenberry is one of the local specialties in Buena Park, Southern California that you really don’t want to miss out on.

Have you heard of the Boysenberry before? I had, but I never fully knew what they were until I saw that the Knott’s Berry Farm Boysenberry Festival is going on soon and decided to check them out.

Curious? Here’s what I found out.

What are Boysenberries?

According to wiki Boysenberries are –

a cross between a European Raspberry (Rubus idaeus), a Common Blackbarry (Rubus fruticosus), an American Dewberry (Rubus aboriginum) and a Loganberry (Rubus x loganobaccus). It is a large 8.0 gram (.28 oz) aggregate fruit, with large seeds and a deep maroon color, which changes to the typical boysenberry color when the fruit is cooked and made into jam and pie.

Where did Boysenberries Come From?

Rudolph Boysen was born in California in 1895. He was a horticulturist who spent most of his early adult life experimenting with various crosses between berries – creating the original boysenberry among other berries. He first moved to Orange County in the 1920’s and brought a few vines of this, at the time, unknown berry with him. The vines did bear fruit, but the fruit never went mainstream. So when he broke his back in an accident, he gave it up and let the vines go.

Photo courtesy of Knott’s Berry Farm

Years later, Walter Knott heard about this berry and tracked Mr. Boysen down. Mr. Knott was able to bring back a few of those dying vines and named the berry after Rudolph Boysen. Mr. Knott and his family started a roadside stand selling these boysenberries and this time they caught on. The rest, as they say, is history!

Photo Courtesy of Knott’s Berry Farm

Interesting Fun Fact: All boysenberries grown anywhere in the world today can trace their roots back to Knott’s Berry Farm!

Today, we most often see it as a pie or jam from Knott’s Berry Farm.

But, as I am finding out, there are so many other ways (and reasons) to enjoy Boysenberries.

The Health Benefits of Boysenberries

It is no secret that berries contain super powers that keep us healthy and feeling good. Boysenberries are no different. Not only do they have a delicious sweet and sour taste, here are 5 healthy benefits to eating boysenberries:

Boysenberries Improve Brain & Blood Health

Boysenberries contain a lot of anthocyanins (like potassium and folate). Anthocyanins are natural antioxidants that help maintain healthy brain cells by boosting your memory, your blood flow and your concentration levels. They also protect against oxidative damage that leads to brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease as well as being an excellent source of the much needed memory vitamin B6.

Boysenberries Are Good For Growing Babies

Boysenberries contain a high amount of the vitamin B-complex, including folate – something that every OB prescribes to their pregnant patients! Boysenberries give this to us naturally!

Boysenberries Improve Digestive Health

These yummy berries are an excellent source of dietary fiber, which keeps our digestive tract on track! They have been used to relieve constipation and will help clean out your intestinal tract.

Boysenberries are a Natural Way to Replenish Your Minerals

Most of us are deficient and don’t even realize it. 1 cup of boysenberries contains 36% of the mineral manganese – an essential mineral plus several others.

Boysenberries are Packed with Vitamins

They are high in vitamins K and C. Vitamin K is what makes your bones so strong and reduces the risk of osteoporosis. Vitamin C helps fight any infections or cancer-causing agents that make it inside of your body! Both are crucial to our health.

Wow – All that in a little berry!

I bet you are wanting some now, I know Have I am!!

Where Do You Get Boysenberries?

At the Knott’s Berry Farm Boysenberry Festival in Orange County, CA! Happening for only 16 days (March 19 – April 3, 2016), once a year, this is the absolute best chance you have to try, buy and share everything boysenberry!

There will be over 70 different, unique recipes using boysenberries for you to sample, special shows, an interactive boysenberry pie making station and the second annual pie eating contest! Not to mention all of the other fun rides and attractions that this park features! There is plenty of on-site parking and Knott’s Berry Farm is handicapped friendly. Get more info here.

If you don’t live within driving distance, LAX is close by. The Boysenberry Festival is a great reason to make the trip to LA. I am told Knott’s Berry Farm has a great resort with all the amenities any family could need to make amazing family memories that will last a lifetime – you can check that resort out here. There are so many places and reasons to travel with your children, a trip to Knott’s Berry Farm’s Boysenberry Festival should definitely be on your list of places to go!

Photo courtesy of Knott’s Berry Farm

How Do I Choose Boysenberries?

Whether you are at the festival or you are in a market or farmers market that carries fresh berries, you will want to pick boysenberries that are shiny, plump and firmish. Stay away from the super hard ones and the ones that are leaky and sagging for maximum ripeness.

How Do I Store Boysenberries?

A Boysenberry does not last long sitting out. After the first day they really should be refrigerated and eaten within a week. Be sure to wash first and remove any moldy or saggy bits.

Boysenberries do freeze extremely well and hold their nutritional value when frozen. This is another great way to store your boysenberries.

For amazing boysenberry recipes and ideas, check out KnottsBerryFarm.com and/or come on out to the festival – it is sure to be a deliciously fantastic event! Get your tickets here.

I can’t wait to try the boysenberry pie, the boysenberry BBQ and the boysenberry wine. I love food that tastes good while making me feel good, like boysenberries do. I look forward to being inspired with new ways and recipe ideas to eat these yummy berries!

What will you try at the Knott’s Berry Farm Boysenberry Festival?

Malibu Mama Loves Xx