The Differences Between Blueberries & Black Currants

Color

• Color stands out as one of the most notable differences between black currants and blueberries. Black currants display a mixture of dark purple and black hues, which makes these berries much darker than even the darkest blue blueberries. Blueberries showcase varying shades of bright blue, deep blue, purplish blue and deep purple.

Shape and Size

• Both black currants and blueberries have a rounded appearance and grow in clusters, but blueberries have a much tighter, compacted round shape when compared with black currants. Black currents look similar to dark-purple grapes, but without the oblong shape of a grape. You might get a cluster of black currents confused with grapes because they look so similar, but as you move closer, you'll notice that black currents look much more rounded than grapes.

Taste

• Blueberries vary greatly in taste, depending on the species. Most types of blueberries have a sweet taste, but some berries have a sweet, yet lightly sour taste. Black currants have a sweet, yet slightly astringent taste. People often use black currants to make tangy jam, or they add it to recipes to enhance flavor. You can eat blueberries and black currants whole, also, but blueberries make a much sweeter treat because of the sour aftertaste that comes with eating black currants.

Foliage

• Black-currant bushes showcase pale-green, single-lobed leaves that have a maple-like shape. Blueberry bushes produce deep-green rounded, oval with pointed tips, heart-shaped or maple-like foliage, depending on the individual species. Blueberry bushes produce small white flowers in the spring, and the foliage changes to red in the fall.