Blackcurrant Day
July 15
About Blackcurrant Day
Blackcurrant Day takes place on Wednesday, 15 July 2026, celebrating one of Britain’s most nutritious homegrown fruits. Created by the Blackcurrant Foundation, the day falls in the middle of the British blackcurrant harvest and encourages people to enjoy the deep purple berry in all its forms, from fresh fruit and jam to cordial and baking.
How to Celebrate Blackcurrant Day
This is a day made for the kitchen, the garden and the fruit bowl. Here are plenty of ways to take part on 15 July.
- Bake a blackcurrant crumble or pie – The tart, jammy flavour of cooked blackcurrants pairs beautifully with a sweet crumble topping and a generous helping of custard. It is one of the simplest ways to turn a punnet of berries into a proper British pudding.
- Make your own cordial – Simmer blackcurrants with a little sugar and water, strain, and you have a homemade cordial that beats anything from a bottle. Dilute with sparkling water for a refreshing summer drink.
- Stir them into breakfast – Spoon fresh or stewed blackcurrants over porridge, yoghurt or pancakes for a vitamin C boost to start the day.
- Whip up a blackcurrant jam – High in natural pectin, blackcurrants set easily, making them one of the most forgiving fruits for first-time jam makers. A few jars will see you through the winter.
- Try a savoury pairing – Blackcurrants are not just for puddings. A blackcurrant sauce works wonderfully with duck, lamb or game, cutting through rich meat with its sharp acidity.
- Visit a pick-your-own farm – Mid-July is peak picking season. Heading to a local fruit farm lets you taste berries at their ripest and supports British growers directly.
- Freeze a batch for later – Blackcurrants freeze brilliantly, holding their flavour and goodness for months. Stash some away now and you can enjoy a taste of summer in the depths of winter.
- Share your creations online – Post your bakes, drinks and harvest photos and tag the Blackcurrant Foundation to help spread the word about this British superfruit.
What is Blackcurrant Day?
Blackcurrant Day is an annual celebration of the blackcurrant, a small, intensely flavoured berry grown across Britain. It champions the fruit’s remarkable nutritional value, its long heritage in British food and farming, and the growers who produce it each summer. The day is aimed at home cooks, families, gardeners and anyone curious about where their food comes from. At its heart, it is an invitation to rediscover a fruit that many people associate only with cordial and to enjoy it fresh, cooked and preserved.
When is Blackcurrant Day?
Blackcurrant Day is held every year on 15 July. In 2026 it falls on a Wednesday. The date is fixed and does not move from year to year, sitting deliberately in the middle of the British blackcurrant season, which typically begins in Kent at the start of July and finishes in Scotland in early August.
The History of Blackcurrant Day
Blackcurrant Day was established in 2021 by the Blackcurrant Foundation, the body that represents Britain’s blackcurrant growers. The Foundation created the day to highlight the start of the July to August harvest and to remind the public of the role the berry can play in a healthy diet. It runs as a month-long digital campaign across social channels, with 15 July as its centrepiece.
The story of the blackcurrant in Britain stretches back far further than the awareness day itself. The fruit has been cultivated here for centuries, valued for its rich flavour and its hardiness in the cool, damp British climate. Its real moment of national importance, though, came during the Second World War. With German submarine attacks cutting off imports of citrus fruit, oranges and the vitamin C they provided became scarce. The government turned to a crop that thrived on home soil. Blackcurrants, which contain roughly four times the vitamin C of oranges by weight, were the answer, and their cultivation was actively encouraged across the country.
In December 1941 the government introduced the Vitamin Welfare Scheme, distributing blackcurrant syrup free of charge to children under the age of two to keep them healthy through the rationing years. Much of that syrup took the form of Ribena, the blackcurrant drink developed by scientists at the University of Bristol in 1933 and named in 1938 after the blackcurrant’s botanical name, Ribes nigrum. That wartime legacy cemented the blackcurrant’s place in the national diet, and Britain remains one of the largest producers of the fruit in the world. If you enjoy days that celebrate the craft of turning a harvest into something lasting, you might also like National Preserving Awareness Week, which falls later the same month.
Fun Facts About Blackcurrants
- Blackcurrants contain around four times the vitamin C of oranges by weight, making them one of the richest natural sources in the British fruit bowl.
- The botanical name for the blackcurrant is Ribes nigrum, which gave Ribena its name in 1938.
- During the Second World War the British government encouraged blackcurrant growing to replace scarce imported citrus fruit.
- The British harvest moves gradually northwards through the summer, starting in Kent in early July and ending in Scotland by early August.
- Blackcurrants are naturally high in pectin, which means they set into jam more easily than many other fruits.
- The berries are packed with anthocyanins, the deep purple pigments linked to their colour and to their antioxidant properties.
Why Blackcurrant Day Matters
Beyond the baking and the cordial, Blackcurrant Day shines a light on British farming and a fruit that punches well above its size nutritionally. Buying and eating blackcurrants in season supports growers across the country and connects people to a homegrown harvest at its freshest. It is also a reminder of how a humble berry once helped keep a wartime nation healthy, a piece of food history worth remembering and celebrating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Blackcurrant Day?
Blackcurrant Day is an annual celebration of the blackcurrant, marking the British harvest and promoting the fruit’s nutritional benefits and culinary uses. It was created by the Blackcurrant Foundation to champion the berry and the growers who produce it.
When is Blackcurrant Day in 2026?
Blackcurrant Day takes place on Wednesday, 15 July 2026. The date is the same every year.
Who started Blackcurrant Day?
The day was established in 2021 by the Blackcurrant Foundation, the organisation that represents Britain’s blackcurrant growers, as the centrepiece of a month-long summer campaign.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your best blackcurrant bakes, jams and cordials on social media with #BlackcurrantDay and #BlackcurrantDay2026. Tag your friends and challenge them to make something delicious from this brilliant British berry.
Related Awareness Days
- National Tropical Fruit Day – Another celebration of fruit, turning the spotlight from British berries to the sweeter flavours of the tropics.
- National Preserving Awareness Week – A perfect follow-up for anyone inspired to turn their blackcurrant harvest into jams and preserves.
- National Mango Day – A fellow fruit day later in July, ideal for fruit lovers looking to keep the celebration going.
Links
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