The most common dried grape varieties are
Sultanina (synonyms
Sultana, Thompson Seedless) and
Currants (Black Corinth and Zante currant).
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In California, where weather conditions are optimal for vineyards, grapes are dried by being placed in the sun. They produce natural seedless raisins, mostly made from Thompson Seedless varieties.
In Turkey, before sun drying, grapes are treated with a dipping solution, which aims to increase the permeability of the wax layer of the berries to water and quicken drying.1 As the home of the Sultanina variety, Turkey is the leading supplier of Sultana raisins.
Other major dried grape producing countries include China, Iran and India.
BENEFITS
Raisins are high in potassium and copper. They are also a source of fiber.2,3
Due to their particular nutritional composition, a 2013 study observed an association between raisin consumption and a reduced risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.4
Raisins may reduce the risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease4 as they are a low to moderate glycemic-index food (an indication of the food's effect on blood sugar level).5,6 They may also have distinct beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk7 by decreasing plasma LDL “bad” cholesterol and may reduce hunger by altering hormones influencing satiety.8
FUN FACTS
The origin of the word raisin is the Latin racemes, which means a “cluster of grapes or berries”.9
Early hunter-gatherers made raisins by drying grapes in the sun.
Legend has it that Noah became the first viticulturist after seeing a male goat becoming cheerful after eating grapes.
10
Cultivated by the Anatolian and Egyptians since ancient times, the grape was prized for its sweetness and wine production.