New to CurraNZ? Here’s why everyone’s talking about blackcurrants in 2026

Why blackcurrants are having a moment

If you’ve spotted blackcurrants popping up on menus, in drinks and in supermarket launches lately, it’s not a coincidence. In 2026 this deep‑purple berry has been tipped as the flavour of the year – but behind the trend is a serious science story.

CurraNZ is a New Zealand blackcurrant extract that takes the humble hedgerow fruit and concentrates its most powerful compounds, called anthocyanins, into an easy daily capsule. Instead of just adding a nostalgic berry note to your breakfast, CurraNZ is designed to support how you train, burn fat and look after your heart, backed by one of the largest research portfolios of any berry supplement, with over 60 studies and publications so far.

If you’re building towards a Couch to 5K, chasing a marathon PB or simply wanting to feel fitter and lighter this year, CurraNZ is made to slot into everyday life – used by world‑class athletes and ordinary exercisers alike.

How CurraNZ helps your training feel easier

Most people don’t need help starting a new plan; they need help sticking to it. The usual barrier is sore, tired muscles that make the next session feel like a chore.

CurraNZ delivers a concentrated dose of New Zealand blackcurrant anthocyanins, which have been shown in human studies to help combat oxidative stress and inflammation after exercise. That matters because these processes are linked to muscle damage and the heavy‑leg feeling that can linger for days. When those are dialled back, recovery between sessions is smoother, so you can train more often and with better quality, not just “hang on” until the weekend.

Research using CurraNZ has also shown meaningful gains in endurance performance. Cyclists and runners have recorded faster time‑trials and found it easier to hold higher intensities, thanks in part to CurraNZ’s effect on how muscles store and use fuel. Studies show the extract supports higher muscle glycogen (your stored carbohydrate) and more efficient fuel use, so you can go further and harder without extra strain on your heart or lungs.

A natural edge for fat burning and body composition

One of the most striking findings from the CurraNZ research is its impact on fat oxidation – in other words, how much fat your body uses for fuel during exercise.

Multiple studies that specifically use CurraNZ report increases in whole‑body fat burning of roughly 21–29% during moderate‑intensity exercise after only seven days of use. That means your body is leaning more on fat for energy while preserving precious glycogen stores.

For people working on body composition, this isn’t just a small tweak. Summary data suggest the average increase in fat burning from CurraNZ is similar to what you’d expect after one to three months of consistent training alone.

Even more encouraging, individuals with higher levels of body fat appear to respond especially well, with some seeing up to a 200% increase in fat oxidation. If you’ve historically found fat loss slow and stubborn, CurraNZ may give you a noticeable helping hand alongside the basics of diet and movement.

Big support for a small heart‑healthy berry

Blackcurrants are naturally rich in anthocyanins – the pigments that give them their deep purple colour – and these plant compounds are increasingly recognised for their cardiovascular benefits.

Human studies on CurraNZ show dose‑dependent improvements in measures of cardiovascular function at rest, including increased cardiac output (how much blood your heart pumps) and reduced peripheral resistance (how hard your blood vessels have to work). In simple terms, blood can move more freely around the body.

Better arterial function isn’t just a nice lab number. Wider, more responsive blood vessels help deliver oxygen to working muscles and vital organs more efficiently, which may be one of the reasons users report easier, stronger-feeling sessions. Early research also suggests that taking CurraNZ regularly can enhance the blood‑pressure‑lowering effects of exercise itself, acting as a partner to your heart‑healthy habits rather than a shortcut.

CurraNZ in a world of GLP‑1 drugs

Weight‑loss injections like Ozempic have pushed metabolic health into the spotlight, but they’re not the only option – and certainly not the starting point – for improving how your body handles fuel.

CurraNZ offers a natural, nutritional approach. By improving fat oxidation and nudging your body to use more fat relative to carbohydrate during exercise, the extract helps keep your “fat burner” switched on more of the time. At the same time, the blackcurrant anthocyanins support healthier blood vessels and appear to influence markers tied to insulin resistance, inflammation and oxidative stress – all key players in how we store fat and manage blood sugar.

For anyone focusing on lifestyle change – better food choices, more movement, decent sleep and stress management – CurraNZ acts as a daily co‑nutrient that amplifies those efforts. It’s not a replacement for good habits, but it can make them work harder for you.

Why CurraNZ is different from just eating berries

You might be wondering: why not just eat a punnet of berries? Whole fruit is always a good idea, but CurraNZ is formulated to deliver a consistent, research‑level dose of New Zealand blackcurrant anthocyanins every day – something that’s hard to achieve with food alone, especially when quality and variety vary by season.

With its New Zealand origin story, long‑term science programme and growing fanbase across elite sport and everyday fitness communities, CurraNZ has become the blackcurrant brand to watch in 2026.

In a year when this once‑overlooked berry is finally stepping into the limelight, CurraNZ stands out as the trailblazer showing what blackcurrants can really do for performance, fat loss and heart health.

If you’re new here and curious, the simplest place to start is one-two capsules a day  and noticing how your training, energy and recovery feel over the following weeks.