Dried Mulberry

What Are Dried Mulberries?

Dried mulberries are a naturally sweet dried fruit obtained by sun-drying white mulberries (Morus alba) after they ripen. They are a traditional winter snack and sweetener, especially in Central and Eastern Anatolia.

They carry a natural sweetness from the mulberry's own sugar, without any added sugar. They are eaten as a snack and are also the raw material for traditional products like mulberry molasses (pekmez) and "köme/orcik" (walnut-mulberry roll).

Nutritional Values of Dried Mulberries

Having lost their water, dried mulberries are a dried fruit concentrated in sugar and energy; they contain about 360 kcal of energy and notable fiber per 100 g, and are also a source of iron. Values are given as approximations relative to the fresh form.

What Are the Benefits of Dried Mulberries?

With their fiber, iron, and natural sugar content, dried mulberries are a naturally sweet snack that can be considered part of a balanced diet, providing sweetness without added refined sugar. Due to their concentrated sugar, they should be consumed in moderation.

This information is general; dried mulberries are a food and are not a substitute for medical treatment.

How to Choose Dried Mulberries

Good-quality dried mulberries are light beige-brown, dry but not stone-hard, and sweet-smelling; overly dried-hard mulberries or ones that have absorbed moisture and clumped together have lost their freshness.

• Berries should be dry but chewably soft
• Avoid ones that have become overly hard or absorbed moisture and clumped
• There should be no mold spots or sour smell

How to Store Dried Mulberries

Dried mulberries are stored for months in a closed jar in a dry, cool place; it is important to keep them in an airtight container since they can clump and mold when they absorb moisture.

Using Dried Mulberries in Cooking

Dried mulberries are eaten as a snack; they are also ground and added to desserts and milk-based drinks as a natural sweetener, used in making molasses (pekmez) and köme, and added to granola-cereal mixes.

What Is Mulberry Köme (Orcik)?

It is a traditional dessert made by drying mulberry molasses together with walnuts in a sausage-like shape; dried mulberries and their molasses are the base of this product.

Are Dried Mulberries Used with Milk?

Yes; dried mulberries or mulberry powder can be added to milk and smoothies as a natural sweetener, and also added to oatmeal.

Which Recipes Use Dried Mulberries?

Snack mixes, mulberry molasses, köme/orcik, granola, and naturally sweetened milk drinks are the best-known uses of dried mulberries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do dried mulberries contain sugar?

They do not contain added sugar; however, since the mulberry's own natural sugar becomes concentrated through drying, they are sweet and caloric and should be consumed in moderation.

How are dried mulberries made?

Ripe white mulberries are spread on a clean surface and dried in the sun, turned occasionally; once thoroughly dry, they are stored as a snack.

What is the difference between dried mulberries and raisins?

Both are naturally sweet dried fruits; dried mulberries are made from mulberries, raisins from grapes. Their taste and texture differ, and dried mulberries are generally softer and more honey-like.

What to do if dried mulberries harden?

Hardened dried mulberries can be softened by soaking briefly in warm water or milk; they can also be ground and used in powder form.

Where are dried mulberries produced?

They are traditionally produced in many mulberry-growing regions of Anatolia, especially in Central and Eastern Anatolia.