Konrad that is one insect I do not have! My favorite is Ben Sarek, but I also have Ben Lomond. I will add one more next year as I have four bushes that produce heavily. They are fabulous and the jam is excellent. Mrs. G

No currant flies here either. I tried 4-5 varieties and Minaj Smyriou is my favorite by far. The new one Black Down was supposed to be good but its horrible compared to Minaj, I didn't even bother to pick them last summer.

Scott

The flies found our two isolated (no other black currants in this or nearby city blocks) plants in year 2. Took them out.

Thank you all!
Pictures would be welcome of the fruit.

I don't like the flavor of traditional black currants fresh (I haven't tried the jam, yet), so my favorite black currant is Crandall clove currant. They're much sweeter than other black currants. Side benefit: pretty yellow flowers that bloom like forsythias and smell like cloves, and lovely fall foliage.

I haven't had an insect problem with them, yet.

I agree with fruit maven, although here it is the golden currant (Ribes aureum). Not only are they tasty, but the bush is drought and heat tolerant, productive, beautiful in flower and fall foliage, and the currants are much larger than most. And you can have a nice bearing bush from seed in three years or so.

Whitman farms carries 27 black currants. A lot to choose from! I myself prefer the red currant. But blacks can grow at my cottage, so I'm going to have to add some. Reds struggle there. Not much light.

Black Titania has been a solid low maitance steady producer. Flavor good but not fantastic.
Currant sawfly have been a real problem on the red currants and gooseberries. Don't touch the blacks
Until last year currants were among or most pest free plants....some aphid outbreaks late spring about all.
Last year our SWD infestation began in the black currants....

Last year I bought Crandall because of fabaceae's recommendation. It has about 5 beautiful blooms on it now.

I am going to have real trouble not getting Minaj Smyriou. Whenever Scott recommends something that's means it has past a lot of tests!