What Type of Grapes Are Raisins Made From? Why Are There Both Black and Golden Varieties and How Do They Differ?

Raisins are a popular dried fruit familiar to many, enjoyed both as a snack and as an ingredient in baked goods. But have you ever wondered which grape varieties raisins come from, and why they come in black and golden colors as well as different sizes? These differences are not only due to the grape variety but also relate to the drying process and production methods.

"What grapes are raisins made from?" Popular varieties unveiled

Raisins are dried grapes, made from various grape varieties—both seeded and seedless. However, the industry today mainly uses seedless grapes, especially those in the Thompson Seedless or Sultanina group, along with other varieties suited for drying. Popular grape varieties used to produce raisins include:

1. Thompson Seedless

This is a greenish-yellow seedless grape vital to the raisin industry, especially in California, USA. Also known as Sultanina, this variety can be used to produce both dark brown raisins from sun drying and golden raisins from machine drying with sulfur dioxide to preserve color.

2. Black Corinth

A small, dark purple to black seedless grape. When dried, it yields small, dark, sweet-tart dried fruits called Zante Currants, commonly used in baked goods such as scones and biscotti.

3. Flame Seedless

A red seedless grape developed in the USA, originally for fresh consumption, but also processed into raisins in countries like Chile and Argentina. When dried, it produces relatively large, dark-colored raisins depending on the drying method.

Additionally, other grape varieties used for raisin production include Fiesta, Selma Pete, DOVine, Muscat, Monukka, and Sultana, with preferences varying by country and production region.

Unraveling the difference between black and golden raisins

Dark brown raisins, often called black raisins and golden raisins can be produced from the same grape groups, particularly light-colored varieties like Thompson Seedless and Natural Seedless. The color differences arise from the drying and processing methods used.

• Black or dark brown raisins are usually made by naturally sun-drying grapes. During drying, chemical changes and browning occur, turning green or light yellow grapes gradually into the familiar dark brown color of raisins.
• Golden raisins are produced by machine drying and treated with sulfur dioxide to inhibit oxidation and browning, preserving the grapes’ lighter color, resulting in a golden hue.

Therefore, the color of raisins does not solely indicate grape variety but also depends on the grape variety, the fresh grape color, and the drying or processing method.

From grape preservation to the popular dried fruit "raisin"

Raisins have a long history as a consumed product because drying grapes removes water, extending shelf life and enabling diverse culinary uses.

Today, raisin production is spread across many global regions, especially those with climates suitable for grape cultivation and drying, such as Turkey, the United States, Mediterranean grape-producing countries, and others worldwide. Each region may choose different grape varieties and production processes.