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Grapes – Fine Fruits

Grapes belong to the vine family. The individual berries grow on the eponymous grape. Green, yellowish, blue, or reddish fruits are available as table grapes, with or without seeds, depending on the variety.

Origin

The grapevine is one of the oldest cultivated plants. Originally it probably comes from the Black and Caspian Seas, today it is cultivated in all parts of the world. For our domestic market, we mostly source the fruit from the Mediterranean countries and South America, as well as South Africa.

Season

The main season for European table grapes is from July to November, originating in the Mediterranean region, smaller quantities also come from local regions. But thanks to worldwide cultivation, we can now buy grapes all year round.

Taste

Grapes taste sweet to sweet-sour and beautifully aromatic. Blue varieties contain more acid than light ones.

Use

Table grapes are ideal for snacking, as a topping for cakes, and for use in fruit salads. They can also be used in hearty salads and grape tarts, sauerkraut, in the form of hot grapes as a side dish for raclette, with stewed poultry, for cheese skewers or to decorate cold dishes. Furthermore, grapes are naturally used to make wine, juice, and grape jelly. A fine aromatic oil can be pressed from the kernels. If you dry the grapes, you get raisins.

Storage

The fresher you eat the berries, the better they taste. Otherwise, you can keep them in the crisper. They will keep like this for up to a week. However, grapes develop their aroma best at room temperature. Therefore, take them out of the fridge about 20 minutes before consumption. Wash just before eating and pat dry with a cotton towel. Important to know: Grapes do not ripen after the harvest, so make sure you buy them of good quality.

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Written by John Myers

Professional Chef with 25 years of industry experience at the highest levels. Restaurant owner. Beverage Director with experience creating world-class nationally recognized cocktail programs. Food writer with a distinctive Chef-driven voice and point of view.

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