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) or currant is a variety of small, sweet, seedless grape named after Corinth (currant) and the Ionian island of Zakynthos (Zante) and not to be confused with the Ribes berries "currants" (eg blackcurrant, redcurrant, white currant) which are in a different family altogether. Their name apparently comes from Old French "raisins de Corauntz"; "Zante" is a recent prefix given to distinguish them from the ribes berries "currants".

Zante currants are very small and intensely flavoured. They can be eaten raw, especially when ripe they are sweet to the taste. They may also be referred to as table grapes for this purpose. Some people believe they are not usually eaten raw, instead 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 and currant cake.

In the United Kingdom they are 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".

See also

• Dried vine fruit
• Black Corinth grapes

External links

• INC, International Nut and Dried Fruit Council Foundation
• Go Zakynthos Zante Island The complete guide about Zakynthos
• Complete Nutrition Facts
• [1]

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