The Facts

• Dried mulberries are the dried fruit of the mulberry tree (Morus ruba). The tree is native to the southern and eastern areas of the United States, according to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, but is absent in most Western states. You can gather and dry your own red mulberries easily if you live in an area where the tree grows in the wild or is cultivated because no other plants look like it and have inedible or poisonous fruits.
  
  

Types

• While the red mulberry is the most common dried variety in the United States, other varieties are just as edible. The white mulberry (Morus alba) grows in some areas of the country with hot climates, according "Wildman" Steve Brill. White mulberries are commercially grown and dried in Turkey and other Mediterranean countries where they are native. Despite their name, red mulberries tend to be a dark purple or may even appear black when ripe, but become a dark red when dried.
  
  

Health Benefits

• The reddish-purple color of dried mulberries is caused by a chemical group known as anthocyanins. Preliminary studies suggest that anthocyanins produce antioxidant effects in the bodies of laboratory animals, according to the Institute for Traditional Medicine. Eating dried mulberries as a snack could help prevent health damage from stress and protect the cardiovascular system, although there is no definitive research available yet to prove or disprove this theory. Dried mulberries offer fiber and healthy levels of sugar when compared to processed snacks.
  
  

As an Ingredient

• Like other dried berries, dried mulberries make a healthy addition to many dishes. Mulberry muffins or quick breads rehydrate the dried fruits as the dish bakes, leaving plump and tasty mulberries mixed into the final product. Trail mix usually involves a mixture of nuts and dried fruit,s, such as mulberries. Tart and sweet, these dried fruits make a good alternative for the less-sweet dried cranberries or less tart raisins commonly used in trail mix.