How to Take the Bitterness Out of Blackberries

Blackberries are tasty and nutritious berries belonging to the same family as strawberries and raspberries. Blackberries grow in the wild and are also cultivated in temperate zones worldwide. They posses a sweet and earthy wine flavour, and are rich in phenolic acid, which is a potent antioxidant. However, at times, wild blackberries, and trailing thornless blackberries, can have a slightly bitter taste. Use sugar to sweeten blackberries and take the bitterness out of them.

Wash the blackberries before eating. Put the berries in a bowl filled with water, then drain and rinse. Refrigerate the blackberries without washing, if you plan to use them later - wash just before eating.

Add 1/4 cup of sugar to 2 cups of blackberries. Use a spoon to gently stir and dissolve the sugar. The sugar draws out the natural juice from the blackberries, and dissolves the bitter taste by sweetening them.

Eat the sweetened blackberries plain. Alternately, add 1 tbsp of the sweetened blackberries to a glass of yoghurt, or combine with cereals, pancakes, fruit salads and milkshakes.

Add sugar to blackberries, and store them in an airtight container in the freezer if you plan to use them in the long-term. Sugared blackberries retain their nutrition and texture longer than unsweetened frozen blackberries. The sugar sweetens the berries and forms a protective film that prevents oxidation due to exposure to air.