Difference Between Raisins and Currants
- Currants have tart flavor, whereas raisins are sweet in flavor.
- Currants are much darker and smaller than raisins.
- Small golden color raisins are called sultanas.
Can raisins be substituted for currants?
There are different types of raisins based on the color and kind of grapes they’re made from. Raisins can be used as a substitute for currants if you want to eat them raw. Sprinkle them on top of your morning cereals or mix them with some Greek yogurt for a tasty snack.
What are currants vs raisins?
Main Differences Between Currants and Raisins
- Currants are dried, dark red, seedless grapes that are often referred to as black Corinth grapes. ...
- The size of currants is smaller as compared to raisins, whereas raisins have a larger size than currants.
- Currants have a chewy and wrinkled texture, whereas raisins have only a chewy texture.
What are currants and what do they taste like?
What Are Currants? Currants are dried grapes. They are used in many dishes such as pies, breads, and jams. What Do They Taste Like? They taste like raisins but are smaller. What Do Currants Taste Like? Currants are dried grape juice. They are used in various dishes such as pie, breads, and jam. What Do They Look Like? Difference between Currants and Raisins
What is substitute for currants?
Substitutes for Currant Jelly
- Grape jelly. Two recommended substitute options can work effectively as red currant jelly replacements. ...
- Apple jelly. Another jelly option that can replace the current jelly is apple jelly. ...
- Cranberry sauce. ...
See more
Why are raisins called currants?
The grapes were originally cultivated in the south of Greece and more specifically, the island of Zante, hence the name Zante currant, used in the United States. The name currant comes from the ancient city of Corinth. Other names for currants are Zante currants, Corinth raisins, or Corinthian raisins.
Is a currant a raisin?
Not to be confused with the black currant, which is a type of berry, currants are raisins made from a specific type of grape — Black Corinth. They are also called Zante currants or Corinth currants. Black Corinth grapes are seedless and quite small.
Are golden raisins and currants the same thing?
The difference is in their size and the types of grapes used. Currants are dried, seedless Zante grape. Currants got their name from its place of origin – Corinth, Greece. They can be used interchangeably with raisins in almost all recipes but unlike grapes, currants are mostly used in baked goods.
What's the difference between a raisin and a currant and a sultana?
Currants are dried, dark red, seedless grapes we often call Black Corinth grapes while sultanas are dried white grapes that are seedless, and raisins are dried grapes, specifically dried, white-fleshed grapes.
Are currants better for you than raisins?
Currants and raisins are very similar in nutritional value. They closely match in carbohydrate count, protein, fiber, sugar, potassium and vitamins C and K. A one-ounce serving of raisins has 95 calories compared to the 79 calories in the same size serving of currants.
Which is healthier raisins or sultanas?
Raisins are made using green seedless grapes and they are mostly sundried without any additives and preservatives. This retains the concentration of nutrients and makes it a much healthier alternative to sultanas.
Should you soak sultanas?
She states “Soaking the raisins and consuming them every day is a healthier alternative as opposed to eating them raw. The vitamins and minerals present on the outer skin of the raisin get dissolved in the water. Thus the amount of nutrients that will be absorbed by the body increases.
Are dried currants like raisins?
Currants are naturally dried like raisins, which gives them their dark color. In addition to being smaller than raisins, currants have a subtler and slightly more tart flavor. Currants are often used in freshly-baked scones, sprinkled over salads or stirred into a traditional hot cross bun recipe.
What are currants?
currant, any of a number of flowering shrubs of the genus Ribes (family Grossulariaceae) and their edible fruits. The piquant juicy berries are used chiefly in jams and jellies and can be eaten fresh or dried. Several species are grown as garden ornamentals.
What is a currant berry?
True currants are small berries that grow on shrubs and are more like gooseberries. Fresh black, red, pink, or white currants, as well as dried black currants, can be enjoyed in various ways. With a sweet and bright acidic berry flavor, currants are delicious when eaten fresh.
What are currants called in America?
A currant is a type of raisin. Raisins are dried grapes. There are plenty of varieties, but in the U.S., “raisin” typically refers to dark-colored dried large grape. As currants come from Black Corinth grapes, golden raisins come from sultana grapes.
What are Raisins?
Raisins are dried grapes, dried grapes with white flesh that have been dried. At first, the skin of these grapes is green in color, but it darkens as they dry, much like the skin of currants. Dried fruits have a thick texture and a sweet flavor that bursts out from their dried state. Raspberries are mostly produced in the United States, Greece, Turkey, and Australia, among other places.
What is a Zante grape?
Currants, commonly known as “Zante currants,” are dried grapes that are small and sweet. Currants are produced by drying a type of tiny, seedless grapes named “Black Corinth” and “Carina,” despite their name. Currants are dried for up to three weeks before being used. They have a sweet, full-bodied, and full-bodied taste, and due to their small size, they add texture and sweetness to sweet and savory foods.
What is the difference between a black currant and a black raisin?
Black currant is darker in color, richer in flavor, sweeter, and fuller, while raisins are larger and deeper than black currant . Some currants are really tiny, seedless raisins rather than raisins (dried grapes). A currant is also one of the several shrubs that are members of the saxifrage family, as well as the fruit produced by that plant. A raisin, in particular, is a dried big, black grape that has been dried.
Why are raisins dark brown?
Raisins are grapes that have been dried for about three weeks. The raisins are dark brown because the color will become darker after the raisins. Raisins are made from a variety of grape varieties. The size, flavor, and color of the grapes used all depend on the type of grapes used. Raisins are usually produced from the Thompson Seedless type in the United States.
Why are raisins soaked in brandy?
Raisins, in contrast to currants, have the ability to absorb various flavors. This is why raisins are often soaked in alcoholic beverages such as brandy before being cooked. This soaking technique enhances the flavor of a meal. Raisins may be used in a variety of baked goods, including cakes, puddings, and confectionery. They may also be used to make oatmeal and granola bars, among other things.
What is a currant?
Currants are dried, dark red, seedless grapes. Fresh currants are tiny berries that are white, black, or red in color and are approximately the size of peas. Surprisingly, the dried fruits marketed as currants are produced from grapes, not currants! Black Corinth grape is a common name for the currants we use as dried fruits.
Why do grapes have golden color?
Grapes are treated with sulfur dioxide, the same chemical ingredient used in winemaking to prevent oxidation, to give them their golden color. The delicate hue of the grapes is preserved with this treatment. Artificial heat is also used to dry golden raisins (rather than drying on the vine-like their traditional counterpart). This heat accelerates the drying process, resulting in plumper raisins with more moisture and a tangier taste.
What is raisin grape?
Raisins are dried white Moscatel grapes. When they are dried the result is a dark, dried fruit much like a currant, making it dense in texture and bursting with a sweet flavor. The main producers of the Moscatel grapes are the United States, Turkey, Greece, and Australia.
What is a sultana?
A sultana is a dried white grape, but of the seedless variety. Sultanas are golden in color and tend to be much plumper, sweeter, and altogether juicier than other raisins. Turkey is the main producer of sultanas. Also known as golden raisins, sultanas will absorb other flavors, but not as well as regular raisins. Read More.
What is a currant?
Currants. Firstly, the currants talked about here are a dried fruit and should not be confused with soft fruit currants such as black currants . The currants mentioned here are the dark, black currants popular in cakes. You will find them in classic dishes like Spotted Dick or an Eccles cake.
Where did currants come from?
The name currant comes from the ancient city of Corinth. Other names for currants are Zante currants, Corinth raisins, or Corinthian raisins. In the UK and Ireland, they are simply called currants.
Where did the black grape originate?
The grapes are dried to produce a black, shriveled, sweet, flavor-packed fruit. The grapes were originally cultivated in the south of Greece and more specifically, the island of Zante, hence the name Zante currant, used in the United States.
What are the three stalwarts in a Christmas cake?
The Spruce / Elaine Lemm. Pick up any baking recipe where dried fruits are involved and there is no way of avoiding the three stalwarts of raisins, currants, and sultanas. These three are used extensively in traditional British and Irish cakes and puddings. You will find them in many guises but they are the main players in both a Christmas cake ...
Can raisins be used in alcohol?
Raisins can (unlike currants) soak up other flavors, which is why it is popular to soak raisins in flavored alcohols such as brandy or almond-flavored Amaretto before using in cooking. The raisins can hold the flavor making the finished dish even tastier.
How are raisins and sultanas differentiated?
In most countries, including the UK, raisins and sultanas are differentiated by the type of grape and the processing method used.
What are the most popular dried fruits?
Raisins, sultanas and currants are all popular types of dried fruit.
What is the difference between sultanas and raisins?
These grapes are treated with a preservative called sulfur dioxide to retain the lighter color of the grape. Sultanas are typically smaller than raisins and are sweeter, juicer and lighter in color than both raisins and cur rants.
How to eat grapes?
Here are some ideas for how to incorporate them into your diet: 1 Add to a cheese platter: Dried grapes make a gourmet addition to a cheese platter. As the largest of the three, raisins work best and pair nicely with creamy brie, nuts and crackers. 2 Eat as a morning or afternoon snack: You can eat them plain or add to yogurt or nuts for a more substantial snack. Alternatively, try making your own trail mix. 3 Add to oatmeal: A small sprinkling of raisins, sultanas and currants adds natural sweetness to your porridge. 4 Add to baked goods: Adding dried fruit to muffins, granola bars and cookies is a great way to sweeten baked goods. Raisins and sultanas are particularly good for soaking up other flavors and make the finished product even tastier. 5 Add to salads: Currants, in particular, are excellent for adding sweetness and texture to salads. They pair well with bitter greens and crunchy nuts. 6 Add to savory dishes: Try adding any of the three to savory dishes such as curries, meatballs, chutneys, rice pilaf and couscous. Currants often work best due to their small size.
How long does it take for sultanas to dry?
In Australia, some sultanas are made without the drying solution. These grapes take longer to dry — up to three weeks — and are dark brown in color. They are often referred to as “natural” sultanas.
What is a sultana made of?
Sultanas are made from green seedless grapes, particularly the Thompson Seedless variety. Unlike raisins, sultanas are typically coated in an oil-based solution prior to drying to speed up the process. For this reason, they are often lighter in color than raisins and currants.
What is the color of raisins?
Raisins. Raisins are a type of grape that has been dried for around three weeks. Grapes darken as they dry, which gives raisins their dark brown color. A range of grape varieties is used to make raisins. The size, taste and color depend on the type of grape used.
What is the difference between raisins and grapes?
The Thompson seedless grape is used for making raisins. The sugar content is high, making the grape sweeter, and the taste of the grape is more mild than that of a wine grape.
Why are golden raisins not dried in the sun?
Golden seedless raisins are not dried in the sun like the black raisins but are instead dried in an oven to hasten the drying process . The raisins are first soaked in a vegetable oil solution which contributes to the lighter color for the naturally plump and juicy raisins. To further prevent them from turning a dark color, they are treated with sulfur dioxide. A high sugar content and a sweet taste distinguish them from sultanas plucked from the sultana vine.
What kind of currants are used in Irish soda bread?
If your recipe for scones, hot cross buns or Irish soda bread calls for currants, think of Zante currants. However, if you are making a sauce for roast duck or lamb, go for red currant jelly. When you reach for that bottle of Cassis to make a Kir Royale, know that what you are adding is a sweet-tart liquor made from macerated black currants.
What are some unusual ingredients in a modern food store?
During a trip to a modern food store, one that features organic or natural fruits, vegetables and nuts, you will often find aisles that are bursting with tubs of unusual ingredients. Raisins and currants are among them, but without knowing the difference between currants and sultanas and raisins and what they are used for, it can be difficult to tell one from the other.
What does a currant taste like?
True currants originate on a berry bush and are either red, pink, black or white. Unlike raisins, currants taste tart. Mouths have been known to pucker while tasting a currant. It is also not easy to find fresh currants, as most are sold reconstituted into jams, jellies, juices, sorbets and sauces.
What are Zante currants?
If the sign above the barrel reads "Zante currants," you will know that the little guys originated from grapes, specifically Corinth grapes. You've probably seen them in the produce aisles of upscale grocery stores. They are the little round grapes often called "champagne grapes" due to the fact that they look like champagne bubbles. Freeze them and serve them alongside a flute of champagne and a cheese board, and all is right with the world.
How long do grapes dry on paper?
Other growers drop the grapes onto paper that runs through the row of grapes. The newly picked grapes are left on the paper for up to three weeks to dry under the sun. As they dry, the grapes' skins turn dark. The paper is then rolled up and transported to the processing facility.
What are dried currants?
When you buy currants at the grocery store today, you’re likely buying Zante currants — these tiny dried grapes. They’re sometimes labeled as such, and sometimes simply labeled as currants. True dried currants are harder to find and typically labeled as black currants.
What are the different types of dried fruits?
While all three are types of dried fruit and used in similar ways, there are several things that set raisins, sultanas, and dried currants (both true currants and Zante currants) apart from each other. Raisins, sultanas, and Zante currants are all sweet dried fruits that stem from different varieties of vine-grown grapes, ...
Why were black currants banned?
Shortly thereafter, Greece started exporting Zante currants, small, dried grapes that were a fraction of the size of standard grapes. Supposedly when the first shipment reached the U.S., the word “Corinth” was mistakenly translated into “currant,” and the name stuck. Since true currants were banned for some time, people came to know Zante currants as currants .
What is the difference between raisins and currants?
Raisins, sultanas, and Zante currants are all sweet dried fruits that stem from different varieties of vine-grown grapes, while currants really are a fresh bush-grown berry that is tart rather than sweet.
What is raisin grape?
Raisins are dried grapes, specifically dried white-fleshed grapes. These grapes are initially green in skin color and darken as they dry, becoming a dense, dark-colored dried fruit containing small seeds and bursting with sweet flavor. Raisins are commonly produced in the U.S., Turkey, Greece, and Australia.
Is a black currant the same as a sultana?
Black currants are a fresh, tart berry, and while dried currants are available, they are not as readily available as raisins and sultanas.
Can you substitute raisins for sultanas?
While different in color and slightly different in sweetness and size, raisins and sultanas are quite similar. Since they’re used in many of the same ways, they can be easily substituted for one another. Zante currants are similar to raisins and currants, just smaller in size, so they can only be used as a substitute on a case-by-case basis.
How are raisins made?
The raisins we are most familiar with are made by allowing fully ripened grapes to dry naturally in open air and sunshine— a process that takes several weeks. The result is a dark brown, dried fruit that is moist and has a strong flavor. You can add them to homemade granola for natural sweetness and chewy texture, to breads for extra moisture and flavor or to a number of desserts such as a slow cooker cinnamon roll pudding. And you can’t make a classic oatmeal raisin cookie without them!
What is the difference between raisins and raisins?
The drying process gives this dried fruit the distinct color and creates a chewy, moist texture and intense sweetness. Classic raisins, golden raisins and sultanas are all made from the exact same grape plant: Thompson seedless. However, it’s the way these grapes are dried that makes the difference.
How to get golden raisins?
To get that golden hue, grapes are treated with sulfur dioxide, the same chemical compound used in wine-making to prevent oxidation. This treatment preserves the light color of the grapes. Golden raisins are also dried using artificial heat (rather than drying on the vine like their traditional counterpart). This heat speeds up the drying process and leaves the raisins plumper, with more moisture and with a slightly more tangy flavor. They can be used in the same ways as brown raisins, but are gorgeous in dishes where the bright color can really stand out. Try using them in a fresh broccoli raisin salad or in this elegant fruit compote with brie.
Why are cookies called hermits?
Then dip the chewy treats in coffee or hot cocoa on frosty days. It's said the cookies are called "hermits" because you can hide them out of sight, just like hermits, for days.
What are currants made of?
Surprisingly the dried fruits labeled as currants are not actually currants—they’re made from grapes!
What grape is used to make sultanas?
Sultanas. Though once made from a different variety of grape, sultanas today are made from the Thompson grape. In most cases they’re made in the same way as golden raisins: treated with sulfur dioxide and heat dried. Some sultana manufacturers also coat the grapes in vegetable oil before drying them. In England recipes calling for raisins will ...
What are raisins used for?
Raisins bring delectably sweet flavor and moist texture to so many dishes: desserts, breads and even as a secret ingredient in some savory dishes. But what about those other dried fruits on the store shelves: sultanas, golden raisins and currants? We often see them in simlar recipes (and they’re often substituted for one another), but we’re wondering exactly what the differences are. Let’s break them down.
What is the difference between a currant and a raisin?
Question: What’s the difference between a currant and a raisin? Answer: There are various types of currants. Some currants are actually small, seedless raisins (dried grapes). A currant also is one of the various shrubs belonging to the saxifrage family and the fruit of that shrub.
Where are currants grown?
Currants are cultivated in the cooler regions of Europe and North America and are used for making jams and jellies. Red and white currants are used to make wine, and black currants are used to make cassis, a liqueur.
Currants
They are native to central and northern Siberia and Europe (France, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland, and Portugal), and they grow fast as small deciduous shrubs attaining a height of about 6 ft.
Nutrition Facts
They have a high concentration of polyphenolic substances, anthocyanins, vitamin C, antioxidants, gamma-linolenic acid, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, copper, iron, magnesium, calcium, manganese, potassium, dietary fiber, and phosphorus.
Health Benefits
They are a good source of vitamin C, that strengthens the immune system, nourishing it to prevent the human body from succumbing to bacterial and viral attacks.
Raisins
They are dried grapes. The drying process actually reduces the moisture content of grapes from approximately 80 percent to 15 percent. There are numerous ways of drying grapes, like – a mechanical dehydration or sun-drying technique.
Nutrition Facts
These dried fruits are rich in vitamin B1, manganese, vitamin B6, folate, dietary fiber, protein, vitamin B3, pantothenic acid, potassium, vitamin C, copper, vitamin K, calcium, iron, selenium, and phosphorus.
Health Benefits
They have high levels of catechins, polyphenolic antioxidants found in the blood. Antioxidants scavenge the free radicals floating in the human body which may cause damage to cells and organ systems.
What did the Greeks call their raisins?
The Greeks never actually called their raisins “currants.”. Blackcurrants or currants are not Greek words. The Greek work for raisin is Σταφίδες or stafides in the Latin alphabet. The real story is that when the Greeks began to export the small dried grapes (raisins), from the Ionian Islands of Ζάκυνθος (Zakýnthos) and Κόρινθος ...
Why are raisins called currants?
One story, with many variations, which is simply copied from article to article without any research, claims that those little raisins were originally called currants by the Greeks for many years because they came from Corinth and the names sounded alike. The Greeks never actually called their raisins “currants.”.
Why is black currant so popular?
The black currant variety became the most popular variety because of its uniquely intense tart flavor and incredible health benefits. It wasn’t long that the black currant became so popular it was thought of a distinct from its colorful cousins and the name “Blackcurrant” emerged as a single type of berry.
Is a black currant the same as a grape?
Raisins (dried grapes) and Black Currants are entirely different fruits from very different botanical families. Grapes belong to the genus Vitus and Currants belong to the genus Ribes. Raisins have some phytonutrients, most notably boron but raisins contain fewer phenols than grapes since many of grape’s phenols are largely lost in the conversion of grapes to raisins through the grape drying process.
What countries grow red currants?
Different Cultivars. Originally, English speaking countries such as England, Ireland, Scotland and New Zealand grew black and red currants. There are also sub-cultivars which are white, pink and even green.
Is Zante a black currant?
Zante currants have become part of the English vernacular and have come to be accepted to identify the Greek raisins. Calling raisins just “currants,” however, is improper and misleading. The most egregious mistake made by some food producers and writers alike is to call a raisin of any type, a black currant.
