Raisin

For other uses, see Raisin (disambiguation).

Sultana Raisins

Raisins

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy	1,252 kJ (299 kcal)
Carbohydrates	79 g
Sugars	59 g
Dietary fiber	4 g
Fat	0.5 g
Protein	3 g
Vitamins and minerals Minerals Quantity %DV† Calcium 4% 50 mg Iron 11% 1.9 mg Potassium 25% 750 mg Sodium 0% 11 mg
†Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults, except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies.

Raisins are dried grapes. They are produced in many regions of the world, such as Armenia, the United States, Australia, Chile, Argentina, Macedonia, Mexico, Greece, Syria, Turkey, Georgia,India, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, China, Afghanistan, Togo, and Jamaica, as well as South Africa and Southern and Eastern Europe. Raisins may be eaten raw or used in cooking and baking.

Etymology

The word raisin dates back to Middle English and is a loanword from Old French; in Old French and French, raisin means "grape," while, in French, a dried grape is referred to as a raisin sec, or "dry grape." The Old French word in turn developed from the Latin word racemus, "a bunch of grapes."

Varieties

See also: Dried vine fruit

Raisin varieties depend on the type of grape used. Seedless varieties include the Sultana (also known as "Thompson Seedless" in the USA) and Flame. Raisins are typically sun-dried, but may also be "water-dipped," or dehydrated. "Golden raisins" are made from Sultanas, treated with Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂) , and flame dried to give them their characteristic color. A particular variety of seedless grape, the Black Corinth, is also sun dried to produce Zante currants, mini raisins that are much darker in color and have a tart, tangy flavour. Several varieties of raisins are produced in Asia and, in the West, are only available at ethnic specialty grocers. Green raisins are produced in Iran. Raisins have a variety of colors (green, black, blue, purple, yellow) and sizes.

well hi my name is marina and i dont actually like raisins that much as you will see. let me tell you about my first encounter with my first raisin.

it was a sunny day like every day in Carmel. i had lived here all my life with my mother, my father, and my 3 annoying brothers they were Jon, Edward and Nathan. grrrr boys anyway my mother came running up the stairs screaming "EVERYONE, EVERYONE guess what they just rashioned raisins".

"oooooh i have never tried a raisin ever in my life" said Edward he was 14, Jon was 16 and Nathan was 12.

No one had ever tried a raisin before, my mother sent me out straight away with the rashion card to go get these so called amazing "raisins" with the rahions we had been saving for our casserole this sunday! but i didnt want to argue i was a lady after all.

i ran as fast as i could not taking one look back i was determined to get these raisins for my mother,or she would get the cane out on my back or worse my hands! she told me to run as fast as i could. she told me she knew everyone would be running to buy raisins and soon enough they would be all out.

as i ran up to the market i saw a sea of people all crowding round where the raisins were being given out. i thought to myself there is no chance im going to get them now i'll get the cane for sure. but then i said quietly to myself "marina you can do this you are 2 times smaller than all those people you can just go under them!"

so i started shoving and ducking and crawling under legs hearing all sorts of bad words as they knew what i was doing.

finally after all sorts of scratches i got to the front i jumped up and said "hey mister pass me a tin of those raisins there" and then the man turned around and gave me the tin, then he asked for my rashion card i gave it to him but he said to me that we didnt have enough money on our rashion card1

i was so upset and confused i said to him "no, no, no you dont understand my family have been saving up for a week we have enough money".

but i turns out one of my idiotic brothers had stolen the card and bought sweets with it! it was probably Jon he was so stupid and slefish he only ever thought of himself. but because he was the oldest mother never believed us when i told of him i always got the blame and thats why i have so many scars from the cane!

i saw an old lady come to the front and i said "hey lady theres a cue and im not down so BACK OF THE CUE OLDY!" but then the most amazing thing happened the old lady said "here i will take 2 tins one for me and one for the little girl here". she was talking about me! so the man said " sure thing your a very lucky little girl" gave me one tin the old lady the other, gave me my card and the old lady just walked off!

i ran after her of course and when i got to her i thanked her so much and told her that i would tell my parents of her gratitude i told her that if she told me her i adress my parents would save up and i would bring the money round. but she refused and said that it was fine.

so i told her that she should at least come round for dinner, but agian she refused i told her i was so sorry for being so rude to her and she just walked away.

i ran home straight away told my mother all the about it gave her the tin. she didnt believe me of course she just said "people arnt that generous these days Marina stop talking nonsense. but of couse i saw it and i was true.

then my mother ripped open this tin of raisins, gave me one i put it in my mouth swallowed and i said "all that just for a shriveled up grape this is a load of tripe".

and then my mother walloped me one i got sent up to have a bath i wasnt to come down i was to go straight to bed without supper. and all i could hear when i was in bed was all my family having fun.

so a lesson to learn is dont judge people and not to disrespect the raisin in front of your mother!

Regional variations

Chunche, naturally ventilated sheds for drying grapes into raisins in Xinjiang.

In the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand the word raisin is reserved for the dried large dark grape, with sultana being a dried large white grape, and currant being a dried small Black Corinth grape. In India and Pakistan, the black raisin is known as kishmish (a Hindi word). In Dutch the word krent is reserved for Corinth based raisins, and raisin cognate rozijn for the rest.

Nutritional value

Raisins range from about 67% to 72% sugars by weight, most of which is fructose. Raisins, like prunes and apricots, are also high in certain antioxidants. As with all dried fruits, raisins have a very low vitamin C content.

Sweetness

The natural sugar in grapes crystallizes during drying .

Raisins are sweet due to their high concentration of sugars. The sugar inside the fruit crystallizes if they are stored for a long period. This makes the dry raisins gritty, but does not affect their usability. The sugar grains dissolve when the raisins are swelled in (hot) water.

See also

• Blackcurrant
• Zante currant
• Redcurrant
• Sultana
• Grape and raisin toxicity in dogs
• Raisin Bran
• California Raisins
• Snap-dragon, a Victorian parlour game that involved raisins being plucked from a bowl of burning brandy.

References

• C. D. Wu, J. F. Rivero-Cruz, M. Zhu, B. Su, A. D. Kinghorn (2005). "Antimicrobial Phytochemicals in Thompson Seedless Raisins (Vitis vinifera L.) Inhibit Dental Plaque Bacteria". American Society for Microbiology meeting. June 5–9. Atlanta. {{cite conference}}: Unknown parameter |booktitle= ignored (|book-title= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)