Raisins
Raisin is a dried grape. There are varieties of raisins available in the world with different grades, sizes and colours such as black, green, blue, purple, yellow, golden… etc., produced in various regions of the world and may be eaten raw or used in cooking, baking and brewing. Golden raisins (also called as Sultanas) is the king of the group are made from the sultana grapes, treated with sulfur dioxide to maintain their golden colour and dried either on the vine or on special drying racks.
The English word raisin has taken from the old French “raisin”, which in turn developed from the Latin word “racemes” a bunch of grapes.
Raisins are a good source of iron and calcium. One-half cup of raisins contains 1.3 milligrams of iron and about 45 milligrams of calcium. Iron is important for making red blood cells and helping them carry oxygen to the cells of your body and calcium is important for healthy and strong bones and teeth.
Raisins are high in sugar and calories but still have a low glycemic index. Raisins contain zero cholesterol and are rich in various nutrients that include Vitamin C, folate, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, vitamin B-6, pantothenic acid, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc and sodium.
Potassium and Magnesium minerals are two of the most common components of antacids because they are considered basic on the pH scale. There are two types of acidosis with a number of causes like boils, skin diseases, damage to the internal organs, gout, and renal calculi.
Raisins grown in Turkey and Iran are mainly Sultana type raisins and are sorted on colour in (st. 8, st. 9 and st. 10). Besides that, customer can choose a different kind of sorting, like laser sorting and hand picking on tables. It is only in recent years that Turkey started to produce Thompson raisins as well. Only South Africa has grown Sultana and Thompson variety raisins in the past years. Sorting is being done on cleanliness (regularly cleaned by machine or laser scanned) and size, where different terms are used, like Choice and Standard grade. In the USA mainly Thompson variety is grown. Also here sorting is being done on cleanliness (regularly cleaned by machine or laser scanned) and size, where goods are called Selects, Midgets and Tinies/Midgets. Chile is mainly producing Flames and Thompsons.
Raisins are produced commercially by drying harvested grape berries. In order for a grape berry to dry, water inside the grape must be removed completely from the interior of the cell onto the surface of the grape where the water droplets can evaporate. However, this diffusion process is very difficult because the grape skin contains wax in its cuticle, which prevents the water from passing through.
Raisins are naturally sweet and high in sugar and calories, but they’re beneficial to our health when eaten in moderation. In fact, raisins can aid digestion, boost iron levels, and keep your bones strong. Raisins are commonly used as a salad topping, mixed into oatmeal, in yoghurt, in chocolates, in granola or cereal. You also may have eaten them baked into delicious cookies, bread, and muffins. Despite their small size, raisins are packed with energy and rich in fibre, vitamins, and minerals.