Fruit
Barberries
زرشک
Also called zereshk, dried barberries
Small dried red berries of the barberry shrub, intensely sour and bright.
Origin
Khorasan in northeastern Iran grows most of the world's crop.
Flavour
Sharp, clean sourness with a little sweetness, like a cranberry with the sugar removed.
How to use it
Rinse and pick over, then warm briefly in butter with a pinch of sugar and saffron. Scatter over rice, fold into stuffings or rice dishes. Never cook them long; they burn and turn bitter.
Storage
Airtight in the fridge or freezer. They darken and lose colour at room temperature.
