Blackcurrants

Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) is one of the most characteristic dark berries of Northern Europe. Its almost black-purple colour comes largely from anthocyanins — a family of polyphenols that gives many berries their red, blue and violet pigments. Research on blackcurrants has identified several dominant anthocyanins, alongside other phenolic compounds, making the berry especially interesting for functional food development. At xdose, blackcurrant is more than a source of colour or flavour: its naturally sharp, aromatic character allows us to build a concentrated berry profile without making the shot taste artificially sweet. It also works naturally alongside other dark berries, where different polyphenol profiles, acidity and flavour can complement one another. This is why blackcurrant has such a natural place in our berry-led formulations: familiar, distinctly Northern and genuinely rich in plant complexity.