currant

Berry of a small seedless variety of cultivated grape (Vitis vinifera). Currants are grown on a large scale in Greece and California and are dried for use in cooking and baking. Because of the similarity of the fruit, the name ‘currant’ is also given to several species of shrubs (genus Ribes, family Grossulariaceae).

The garden red currant (Ribes rubrum) is a native of southern Europe and Asia, now also growing in North America. The European black currant (R. nigrum) is widely cultivated. The American black currant (R. americanum) is native to eastern North America, as is the skunk currant (R. glandulosum).