Heard Of

Shehtoot

? All You Need To Know About Indian Mulberries

The Flavour Profile: Sweetness with a Tang

You can find Indian mulberries in different varieties, and their flavour differs accordingly:

White-Greenish shehtoot: This has a subtle, flowery sweetness and lacks acidity.

Black/Purple shehtoot: This has a "sweet-tart" profile. With their deep, wine-like undertones, they are rich in anthocyanins, the same antioxidants that are present in blackberries.

Nutritional Properties of Shehtoot

Enjoying shehtoot is a fun way to boost your health as the seasons shift. 

• These berries are rich in vitamin C and can protect you against illnesses during the flu season. 
• Their high potassium and iron content improve blood flow and help keep blood pressure normal. 
• The high fibre content of these berries, like that of other berries, can help keep your digestive system in check throughout the summer. 
• They are also loaded with essential vitamins A, K, and E, along with B-complex vitamins to support skin health, vision, and metabolism.

Cooking with Mulberries

Ripe shehtoot berries are delicious when eaten raw, but they also offer plenty of room to experiment when cooked:

• Enjoy them fresh and raw by adding them to a bowl of Greek yoghurt or using them as a colourful garnish for your morning porridge. 
• They are perfect for making preserves and coulis due to their high juice content. 
• Muddle them into a glass of iced tea, mojito, or summer cooler to add a little botanical sweetness and a hint of purple colour. 
• Shehtoot can be blended into a tangy-sweet chutney that goes well with cheese, parathas, bread, and more.

Creative Ways to Use Shehtoot in Desserts

Here are some enticing selections of shehtoot dessert ideas that you simply can't miss:

Shehtoot Ice Cream/Kulfi: A luscious, frozen delight that combines mulberries with milk or cream, perfect for summer days.

Mulberry Crumble: Bake these ripe berries on a crust made of butter and oats until the fruit softens into a jam-like consistency.

Mulberry Yoghurt Parfait: Yoghurt, granola, and mulberries layered together for a healthy but decadent dessert or brunch option.

Shehtoot Jam Tart: The strong floral sweetness of mulberries shines when used as the filling for shortcrust pastry, especially when cooked in a slow-simmered preserve.

Shehtoot Shrikhand: Give this classic Indian dessert a fruity and creamy twist, mix mashed shehtoot with cardamom-infused hung curd.

Mulberry Galette: Beautiful and delicious, this free-form pie is made by layering whole mulberries on top of a rustic pastry dough. As the tart bakes, the berries release their juices.

The Secret to Handling Shehtoot 

Keep in mind that Indian mulberries often come with their stalks still attached. Though they are safe to eat, you might find them a bit woody in texture. When making a velvety sauce or luscious jam, take some time to snip them off with kitchen shears. You should also be careful with the juice, since it stains everything it touches (including your hands)! 

Precautions While Consuming Shehtoot

Although shehtoot is very nutritious, enjoying it this summer can be more carefree if you take a few precautions. Diabetic patients should check with their doctor before eating these berries to make sure they do not experience dangerously low blood sugar levels while taking their medication as prescribed. Plus, there isn’t a tonne of data on the safety of this seasonal fruit, so it is best avoided by nursing mothers and pregnant women. 

The bioactive components in mulberries may sometimes cause sensitivities, so be careful if you have a history of berry allergies.