The Magnificent California Raisins

Will the real raisins stand up!

What are raisins?

Raisins are simply dried sweet grapes, of course. Until medieval times, raisins were the second in choice as a sweetener, honey being the top choice. At one time in ancient Rome, raisins were considered so valuable that two jars could buy a slave. In the 13th century, Damascus had quite a reputation for their sweet raisins.

But, there is another type of raisin, the Magnificent California Raisins. These cute little clay animation characters are as sweet as can be, and they don't sound bad either.

But, getting back to real raisins, which are a favorite of mine. The majority of the world's supply of raisins comes from California, dried from Thompson seedless (95 percent), muscadine, or Black Corinth (Zante) grapes. In 1873, California suffered a devastating drought which literally dried the grapes on the vine. Looking to recoup some of the grape crop, an enterprising marketer in San Francisco sold the dried and shriveled grapes as "Peruvian Delicacies," and the California raisin industry was off and running.

Most raisins are dried naturally by the sun right in the vineyards, although some are mechanically dehydrated. Once sun-dried, a process taking two to four weeks, they are then graded, cleaned, and packed. Some raisins are kept golden in color by the use of sulfur dioxide (sulfites).

Source: What are raisins

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Well, that may be true for most raisins but not The California Raisins. I remember when I first saw one of their commercials on television. They were so cute. What a great advertising idea! I hope you will enjoy visiting the California Raisins.