Mora di Gelso

The mulberry bush, Chinese in origin, is mostly grown for its leaves which are used to feed silk worms. The berries come in two colours, white and black. Both are made up of a series of tightly bunched pods, but the black berry is longer and has a deep-red juice that is slightly sour but has a wonderful flavour. The mulberry is mostly grown on the plains of northern Italy and is only used locally as it not sold commercially. It can be eaten on its own or as part of a fruit salad, as well as being used to make syrups and jams.