The major producers are Germany, Poland, and Russia. It is rare to see cultivation of these thorny shrubs in our country. Currants are mainly used to make compote, jelly, jam, syrup, and wine although red currant juice is a wonderful replacement for vinegar. Since this berry is quite tart it is primarily cooked before consumed and often added with other fruits to give a zip to the flavor. They also are quite tart and can leave a bitter aftertaste.
Blueberries are common in the woods of Canada and North America.
These berries are very versatile. They taste as good raw as they do cooked. They are often served with fresh cream or mixed with pancake or waffle batter. The Native North Americans cooked blue berries to make a concentrated paste, which they then left to dry in the sun. This ensured a supply of berries during the off-season.