California Seedless Grape Raisins on the left and California Zante Currants on the right along with a metric ruler for scale.

Zante Currants Packaging

The Zante currant (Vitis vinifera) is a variety of small, sweet, seedless black grape named after Corinth (currant) and the Ionian island of Zakynthos (Zante) and not to be confused with the original currants (e.g., blackcurrant, redcurrant, white currant) which are berries of shrubs in the Ribes genus and are in a different family altogether. The name currant apparently comes from the Anglo-French phrase "raisins de Corinthe" (Raisins of Corinth)^[1]; "Zante" is a recent prefix given to distinguish them from the Ribes berry currants. The French for grape is raisin and the French for dried grape is raisin sec .

Unlike blackcurrants, the Zante currant is not a significant source of vitamin C^[2].

Zante currants are very small and intensely flavoured. They can be eaten raw, especially when ripe, when they are sweet to the taste. They may also be referred to as table grapes for this purpose. More commonly they are used for making raisins and occasionally wine. When dried, they are often referred to as dried currants or just "currants" and in this form are used in cooking, especially baking and are a major ingredient in currant slice (or currant square) and currant cake.

In the United Kingdom they are usually referred to simply as "currants" and often used in scones, currant buns, Christmas cake, Christmas pudding and mincemeat. They are sometimes sold mixed with raisins and sultanas as "mixed dried fruit".

[edit] See also

• Dried vine fruit
• Black Corinth grapes
• Currant

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• INC, International Nut and Dried Fruit Council Foundation
• Go Zakynthos Zante Island The complete guide about Zakynthos
• Complete Nutrition Facts
• Rich Christmas pudding (recipe that uses currants)

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