Berberis (barberry)

The berries are common in Persian cuisine such as in rice pilafs (known as zereshk polo) and as a flavouring for poultry meat. Due to their inherent sour flavor, they are sometimes cooked with sugar before being added to Persian rice. Iranian markets sell zereshk dried. In Russia they are sometimes used in jams (especially the mixed berry ones), and extract from them is a common flavoring for soft drinks and candies/sweets.