Raisins are dried grapes/currants. However, unlike fresh grapes, they indeed are rich and concentrated natural sources of energy, vitamins, electrolytes, and minerals. In addition, they are packed with several health benefiting poly phenolics anti-oxidants, dietary fiber, and other phyto-nutrients.

In general, fresh grapes either seedless or seed types of the Vinifera species, such as Thompson Seedless (Sultana), Sugarone, Calmeria, Corinth… etc., are subjected to sundry or in mechanical drying techniques. In some cases, the whole bunch of grapes may be allowed to dry in the vine itself (vine-dried). The moisture content should not exceed 16% of dry weight. Thoroughly dried raisins are further stemmed, cap-stemmed, sorted, and cleaned in order to obtain right quality, dried berries. At the commercial level, the berries are processed and graded further before sold in the markets.

Several brands, grades, varieties of raisins are available. Whenever you want to buy them, look carefully for authentic brands, and always choose high-quality raisins since substandard berries have thin flesh, and poor in taste and flavor.

Buy raisins that are full-fleshed, and plump in appearance. It is alright to have fine wrinkles. Avoid old stocks as well as those with excess moisture, mold, or affected by sunburn, scars, insect injury, mechanical injury, or other similar means, which may seriously affect their appearance, edibility, and keeping quality.

Being dry fruit, raisins have a long shelf life. They keep well when stored in airtight containers and placed away from moisture, humidity, sun light and high temperature. They can also be stored inside the refrigerator.

Prolonged cold storage may results in precipitation of their sugar contents. However, this should not offset their quality. It can be reversed by just soaking them in boiled water for few minutes in order to dissolve sugar crystals.