Mulberries and blackberries are fruits that look similar and have common flavor properties, but these two fruits also differ from each other. Blackberries are round, plump, and about 1 inch in diameter. Mulberries are about the same thickness but have a more elongated shape with a length of about 1½–2 inches when fully ripe.
While mulberries and blackberries are both dark red, purple, or black, mulberries also have a white variety, and blackberries don’t. These berries are both sweet with a tart tang. However, blackberries have a more earthy, woody flavor, while mulberries are sweeter with a milder tang.
Comparison Chart: Is Mulberry the Same as Blackberry?
| Mulberry | Blackberry | |
| Appearance | Black or white elongated fruit. Grows on a tree | Black, round fruit. Grows on a bush |
| Flavor | Sweet, slightly tart | Sweet and tangy |
| Background | Originated in China | Originated in Ancient Greece and Rome |
| How to eat it | Raw, in fruit salad, smoothies, baked in pies | Raw, in fruit salad, smoothies, baked in pies |
| Price | $3–$4 per pound | $5–$6 per pound |
| Health properties | Low calorie, rich in vitamins | Low calorie, rich in vitamins, high in fiber |
Mulberry Explained
Mulberry, from the genus Morus, is a small, plump, juicy, edible fruit that grows on a tree.
Appearance and Flavor
A mulberry is known as a collective fruit, or a multiple fruit, and consists of a cluster of small balls of flesh, growing together on a central stalk. The mulberry is about 1 inch thick and up to 2 inches long, with an elongated shape and a soft, spongy texture.
Mulberries are sweet and juicy, with a grassy undertone and a hint of tartness. Color ranges from red to purple to black, with a less common white variety. Mulberry juice is dark red or purple and often stains skin and clothes.
Background: Where Does it Grow?
Mulberries originated in China, but are now also native to northern areas of the USA, India, and Africa. The children’s nursery rhyme about the “mulberry bush” isn’t accurate, because mulberries grow on a tree — not a bush.
Mulberry trees are deciduous trees with large leaves. These trees are often cultivated for their leaves more than their fruit because the leaves are used to feed silkworms. Some varieties are fruitless. The silk trade depends heavily on mulberry trees for successful silk production.
How to Eat Mulberry
Mulberries are delicious when eaten raw or fully ripe. The berries can add a unique sweet and tangy flavor to fruit salad. When combined with other berries, mulberries make a delicious topping for a pavlova or fruit tart.
Enjoy a mulberry smoothie made with milk and yogurt for a healthy breakfast. Here’s a quick, easy recipe.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fresh, ripe mulberries
- ½ cup milk
- 1 small carton natural yogurt
- 1 teaspoon honey (optional)
Place the ingredients in a blender jug and blend until smooth. Serve in a tall glass.
When and Where to Buy Mulberry
Mulberry is a summer fruit, ripening between June and September. As the fruit ripens, it comes away easily from the branches and often falls to the ground before the berries can be picked. Mulberry trees are easy to grow and are often found in backyards and gardens.
Supermarkets and specialty fruit and vegetable stores sell mulberries, but these fruits are difficult to find in stores because the berries have a short shelf life, lasting 3–4 days before going bad. Expect to pay between $3 and $4 for a pound of fresh mulberries.
Health Properties and Nutritional Information
Mulberries are a healthy, low-fat snack, with 60 calories to a cup. Rich in vitamin C, 1 cup of mulberries provides 85% of the RDI (recommended daily intake) for an adult, and also contains 10% of the RDI of fiber.
Mulberries are a rich source of iron and calcium and are high in antioxidants, which protect against diabetes and cancer and promote good heart health.
Blackberry Explained
Blackberries, from the genus Rubus, are small, round berries that are often confused with mulberries.
Appearance and Flavor
Blackberries are small, round berries about 1 inch in diameter and dark purple or black in color. The fruit consists of little balls of pulp emerging from a white core in the center.
Blackberries are sweet with a sour tang and an earthy flavor. As the berries ripen, the flavor becomes more pronounced.
Background: Where Does it Grow?
Blackberries date back to ancient times when Greeks and Romans used these berries for medicinal purposes. Originally native to Europe and Asia, today blackberries are grown in many parts of the world, with Mexico being the leading supplier of blackberries to the world market.
Unlike mulberries, which grow on a tree, blackberries grow on a bush. The fruit grows on upright canes which eventually bend over from the weight of the fruit. As the tip of the cane touches the ground, the cane starts to sprout and a new cane takes root, enabling the bush to self-propagate.
How to Eat Blackberries
Raw blackberries are delicious when eaten at their ripest, with the sweet, juicy flavor complementing the flavors of other fruits and berries. Add blackberries to a fruit salad, use them in smoothies, or serve them as a dessert in a blackberry pavlova.
Here is an easy blackberry pavlova recipe.
Ingredients:
- Store-bought pavlova base
- 3–4 cups fresh blackberries
- 16-ounce carton heavy whipping cream
- Chocolate chips and chopped nuts to decorate
Fill the pavlova base with fresh blackberries. Cover the berries with whipped cream and sprinkle chocolate chips and chopped nuts on top. Assemble just before serving to prevent the pavlova from becoming soggy.
When and Where to Buy Blackberries
Blackberries start ripening towards the end of June and continue through the summer months, with peak season being in August and September, when the berries are at their most luscious.
Like mulberries, blackberries have a short shelf life and only last for 3–4 days after being picked, so these berries are difficult to find in stores. Supermarkets and specialty fruit and vegetable stores stock blackberries for a limited period during the height of the season.
Because of their limited availability, blackberries are often expensive, selling at between $5 and $6 per pound.
Health Properties and Nutritional Information
Blackberries are a nutritious, healthy fruit with a high fiber content. 1 cup of blackberries provides 38% of the RDI for an adult. Low in calories and high in vitamin C, these berries make a filling, low-fat snack.
Blackberries are a rich source of vitamin K, essential for maintaining healthy blood-clotting levels, and are filled with antioxidants and anti-microbial properties.
Choosing Mulberry vs Blackberry
Mulberries and blackberries are both healthy, low-fat fruits with a predominantly sweet flavor, although mulberries are usually sweeter and blackberries have more of a tang. Mulberries grow on trees while blackberries grow on bushes.
Mulberry trees are easy to grow in your garden, making these berries readily available. People with a sweet tooth enjoy eating mulberries, while those who prefer a more sour tang would prefer blackberries. Both fruits go well in fruit salad and smoothies.
Other berries, like raspberries and strawberries, are also good choices for those who like berries. Mulberries and blackberries go well with other berries when served together.
