(Ribes triste)
The wild Northern Red Currant is a tasty treat indeed. If you’re lucky enough to find a big batch of them, they can be used in any recipe for cultivated berries. If you find only a few, then they make a fine addition to summer puddings or wild fruit salads or just as a trailside treat.
Red currant is a native shrub, forming dense patches and growing up to 2 m. Flowers are in hanging clusters and are yellow-green with pinkish-purple centers. They are up to 6 mm across with 5 greenish petals. Fruits are bright red and edible. Leaves are approximately 6 cm across.
The northern red currant grows all over the BC coast at higher elevations but gets lower as you move up the coast. I always enjoy finding them on a mountain hike, sweet and sour at the same time but quite refreshing. I like to gather them in my hand until I have enough for a mouthful, then eat them all at once.