I've just heard on my favourite food podcast (Gastropod) that blackcurrants (no, I don't mean blackberries, bilberries, cranberries, etc) are barely known in the USA. The podcast explained the historical reasons, that go back to the early 20th century and that they were banned until 1966.

Are they still more or less unknown by the general public? Do American readers here know them, use them and love them?

And what about Creme de cassis ?