Mora
Mora (Latin: Rubus glaucus) is a variety of fruit plant belonging to the Rosaceae family of the genus Raspberry.
Description
Mora is a fairly large perennial fruit shrub, growing up to three meters in height.
Mora”s juicy berries are quite sweet and slightly tart. They rarely exceed three centimeters in size and are similar in shape to raspberries. The average weight of each berry can vary from three to five grams. Ripening berries change color twice: first from green to red, and then to purple.
Where it grows
Mora is native to the picturesque foothills of the Andes, and can be found wild from Peru to Mexico. In South American and some Central American countries, mora is widely cultivated as a fruit plant. It is especially common in Ecuador, but is also found just as frequently in Colombia. Over the past few years, a number of hybrids of mora with blackberries and raspberries have been developed.
Uses
In terms of nutritional value and taste, mora is significantly superior to blackberries and raspberries. Mora berries are either eaten fresh or made into compotes or jams. They also make excellent pie fillings, preserves, marmalades, and jams. Fresh berries are often juiced and added to a wide variety of confectionery products and ice cream. They contain high amounts of phosphorus, vitamin C, pectin, calcium, organic acids, carbohydrates, and proteins.
Mora is also used medicinally—it is an excellent preventative measure against a wide range of illnesses. It has proven particularly effective in treating inflammatory respiratory diseases (bronchitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis, etc.), and is also often used to increase blood pressure. The high iron content makes mora berries not only an excellent general tonic, but also indispensable for heavy menstrual periods, after complex surgeries, and for anemia. These berries also significantly improve appetite. Mora is also recommended for fever, atherosclerosis, and diabetes (it”s excellent for lowering blood sugar).
Furthermore, mora berries are an excellent source of blue and purple food coloring.
Contraindications
Mora has virtually no contraindications, but people with high blood pressure should constantly monitor the amount of berries they eat and avoid overindulging.
Cultivation and Care
Temperatures between twelve and nineteen degrees Celsius and humidity between 80 and 90% are best for growing Mora. As for precipitation, the ideal is 800 to 2500 mm per year. Mora is very light-loving and thrives in forest edges. Under particularly favorable conditions, it can become so aggressive that it can easily choke out all other vegetation. However, many plants belonging to the genus Raspberry behave in this way. Although mora is found only in subtropical or tropical zones, it can easily survive temperatures as low as minus ten degrees Celsius—a quality that makes it suitable for cultivation at altitudes of 1, 500–3, 100 meters above sea level.
With proper care, mora yields can reach twenty tons per hectare. Fruiting begins in the first year after germination, and this crop continues to produce vigorously until the berry bushes reach twelve or even twenty years of age.
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