Dorothy FarrarSultanic
While the trade mostly uses the same designations for fresh and dried fruits, the dried fruits of the grape are generally called raisins . There are even additional special names for the dried berries of individual grape varieties. This is how the dried fruits of a special vine are called sultanas .
Interesting facts about sultanas
Sultanas are the dried grapes of the seedless Sultana grape, also known as Thompson seedless. Winegrowers mainly cultivate this grape variety specifically for the production of dried fruit. The white wine, which is also made from this grape, is rarely drunk directly, but mostly used as the basis for brandies.
The main growing areas of the Sultana grape are Turkey, Greece, Chile, Australia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, China and South Africa as well as the US state of California. Harvest time in the northern hemisphere is between early and mid-October. The berries are golden yellow in color and taste extremely sweet.
A major advantage for raisin production is their good transportability. They are also thicker than the grapes of most other grape varieties and are therefore well protected against the plant disease gray mold.
When drying, a good four kilograms of fresh grapes turn into one kilogram of sultanas. The dried fruit of the Sultana vine has about fifteen percent of the water content of the fresh grape. Like all dried fruits, they have a high fructose content of around thirty-three percent.
The commercially available sultanas are usually sulphurized, which does not have to be stated on the package if the sulfur content is less than ten milligrams of sulfite per kilogram of raisins.
importance to health
Sultanas have health benefits when consumed in reasonable amounts. They contain a lot of fiber and large amounts of the trace elements potassium and phosphorus. The potassium content promotes the ability to concentrate. On the other hand, all dried fruits contain many calories, so eating large amounts promotes obesity .
Whether dried fruit should be included in the desirable five servings of fruit and vegetables per day is controversial among nutritionists. This is supported by the fact that they contain most of the valuable ingredients of the starting products. The main counter-argument is that fresh fruit is even healthier.
For health reasons, sultanas and other raisins are always preferable to classic sweets such as chocolate or crisps for snacking, as they provide more vitamins and minerals and fewer calories.
ingredients and nutritional values
One hundred grams of sultanas provide about three hundred calories. The dried grapes contain high amounts of vitamins K and E. Furthermore, with the exception of B12, all the sub-vitamins of the B group are contained in the dried grapes. In addition to potassium and phosphorus, sultanas contain significant amounts of the trace elements and minerals manganese, copper, magnesium and sodium.
The iodine content of sultanas depends on the growing area. If this is near a sea, the fruits contain an appreciable amount of iodine. The dried grapes harvested far from the coast inland, on the other hand, almost completely lack this trace element.
| Calories and nutrients (per 100g) | ||
| kilocalories/kilojoules | 298 kcal/ 1298 kj | |
| protein | 2,46 g | |
| carbohydrates | 66,20 g | |
| Fett | 0,55 g | |
| Water | 18,76 g | |
| fiber | 5,40 g | |
| Vitamin E | 600 µg | |
intolerances
A direct intolerance to sultanas is not known in humans. However, pet owners need to be careful as all types of raisins are poisonous to cats. In dogs, the toxicity depends on the individual animal. Some dogs tolerate sultanas and other raisins, while other animals show symptoms of poisoning.
People suffering from fructose intolerance should generally avoid dried fruit, as they have a significantly higher concentration of fructose than fresh fruit. Occasionally flatulence occurs after eating large amounts of sultanas . These can usually be avoided by soaking the dried grapes beforehand.
Shopping and kitchen tips
Sultanas are sold pre-packaged and can be found with the baking ingredients in most stores. Most manufacturers use the specific name of the dried fruit of the Sultana vine as a product designation. If only the generic name raisins is on the front of a pack, the exact grape is given on the back.
Although currants and sultanas are basically interchangeable in the kitchen, they have significant differences in taste. The targeted purchase of sultanas is particularly recommended for nibbling and for desserts, as they taste sweeter than other types of raisins.
Better than storing the dried grapes in the open bag is transferring them to a sealable container that keeps pests away. Too much moisture reduces the shelf life of all dried fruits.
preparation tips
The dried grapes can be used for baking as well as for cooking. Due to their sweetening power, a reduction in the amount of sugar is recommended for cakes and sweet desserts.
Sultanas are also suitable as an ingredient for a punch. The “East Frisian bean soup” consists of dried grapes that have been marinated in schnapps for a long time. A well-known snack is the trail mix, which consists of sultanas or currants, peanuts and nuts.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.