or CURRANTS, the fruit of a species of grossularia. See GROSSULARIA, BOTANY Index.

The white and red sort are mostly used; for the black, and chiefly the leaves, upon first coming out, are in use to flavour English spirits, and counterfeit French brandy. Currants greatly affuse drought, cool and fortify the stomach, and help digestion; and the jelly of black currants is said to be very efficacious in curing inflammations of the throat.

Currants also signify a smaller kind of grapes, brought principally from Zante and Cephalonia. They are gathered off the bushes, and laid to dry in the sun, and so put up in large butts. They are opening and pectoral; but are more used in the kitchen than in medicine.