Phenolic compounds in buds and leaves of three varieties of black currant in Finland were identified by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS. Forty-three phenolic compounds of flavonol glycosides, proanthocyanidins and phenolic acids were found in variety "Mikael" whereas only thirty-five in "Mortti" and "Jaloste n:o 15". Glycosides of quercetin and kaempferol were the major phenolics. Rutin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoise, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-(6"-malonyl)-glucoside and a kaempferol-malonylhexoside were the most abundant flavonol glycosides. The contents of flavonol glycosides ranged from 1 to 7 mg/g fresh weight in leaves showing typically an increasing trend from July to August, reaching the highest values in early October in "Mikael" and the end of August in "Mortti" and "Jaloste n:o 15". This is the first systematic report of the composition and content of phenolic compounds in buds and leaves of black currant. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.