Fruit ingredient company J.O. Sims Ltd. has introduced the taste of New Zealand boysenberries to the UK consumer.

The company teamed up with two leading food retail outlets to create the boysenberry drinking yoghurt and smoothie. New to the UK market, the boysenberry is a versatile fruit and has wide ranging applications including jams, dairy desserts, yoghurts, ice-cream, bakery products and beverages. Boysenberries have been grown commercially for over 30 years in New Zealand, where boysenberry is a popular ice-cream flavour. Its latest applications in yoghurt and smoothie drinks see the fruit fulfilling a dual function as both a flavour and colourant.

J.O. Sims Ltd claims that the fruit is currently enjoying a surge in demand due to its rich burgundy colour, tangy taste and functionality, as well as its association with a growing number of health benefits. According to the company boysenberries provide a natural source of vitamins and minerals, negligible fat content and a relatively high level of folate. Preliminary scientific research has shown that anthocyanins and other naturally occurring polyphenolics give the fruit high antioxidant activity.