Sultana (grape)
The sultana is a "white" (pale green), oval seedless grape variety also called the sultanina, oval-fruited Kishmish, Lady de Coverly (England), and Thompson Seedless (United States). It is assumed to originate from the Asian part of the Ottoman Empire.[1] In some countries, especially Commonwealth countries, it is also the name given to the raisin made from it; such sultana raisins are often called simply sultanas or sultanis. These are typically larger than Zante currants (which are actually a kind of dried grape, not currants in the botanical sense), but smaller than "normal" raisins. Sometimes, the name "sultana" is applied to all raisins, to the extent that the breakfast cereal known as Raisin Bran in the United States and most other English-speaking countries is known as "Sultana Bran" in Australia.[2]
Sultana raisins are small, sweet and have a golden colour.[3]
Another seedless grape variety from the former Ottoman Empire, the round-fruited Kishmish, is also called the sultana.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
The sultana raisin was traditionally imported to the English-speaking world from the Ottoman Empire. Turkey and Australia are major producers.[4]
The sultana grape's American name, Thompson Seedless, refers to William Thompson, a viticulturist who was an early grower in California and is sometimes credited with introducing the variety.[1][5][6] According to the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, the two names are synonymous.[7] Virtually all of California raisin production (approximately 97% in 2000) and roughly one-third of California's total grape area is of this variety, making it the single most widely-planted variety.[6][8]
[edit] Raisins
In Anglo-America, most raisins, including those with the typical dark brown colour, are made from the sultana grape, called the Thompson Seedless there. The term "sultana" is occasionally used to describe raisins. When it is, it refers to golden-coloured raisins, which may also be called "golden raisins". Any kind of grape may be used to produce golden raisins, and any kind of golden raisins from any kind of grape may be marketed as "sultanas". Moreover, the golden colour may come from a treatment with sulfur dioxide rather than traditional drying and preservation methods.[9] Most non-organic sultana grapes in California and elsewhere are treated with the growth inducing plant hormone gibberellin. In other grapes gibberellin is released by the seeds.[10]
In some jurisdictions, seedless dried grapes are classified as Sultana and Thompson raisins according to the drying method used. Sultanas are steeped in a solution of water, potassium carbonate and vegetable oil in order to hasten the drying process. Thompson raisins are not treated with this solution but are dried naturally, and thus require more drying time than sultanas. Because of this, Thompsons are a darker colour than Sultanas.[11]
[edit] Other uses
Sultana raisins are eaten as a snack food without further processing and are used in a variety of dishes, such as fruit-cakes and Bath buns, sometimes prepared by soaking in water, fruit juice, or alcohol.
The sultana grape is even used to make white wine, in which use it is known for its "sweet blandness".[5][6] It is referred to as the “three-way grape” because it is used for table grapes, raisins and wine. In the United States it is the base for wine generically called “chablis”.[citation needed] This wine is named for the Chablis region of France, but it is not a true Chablis wine. In the EU, "Chablis" wine must be made from the Chardonnay grape produced in the region of the Yonne département.
It is the most planted grape in California due to its triple use. [2]
Sultana grape juice was fraudulently sold as being of Chardonnay grapes in Australia for wine making, due to the lower cost of Sultana grapes. The fraud was discovered in 2003 by Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation. It was considered the largest case of wine deception in Australian history.[3][4].
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Bioletti, Frederic T. (1918). "The Seedless Raisin Grapes". Bulletin of the California Agricultural Experimental Station (298): 75–86. http://books.google.com/books?id=aTrOAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA3-PA77. Retrieved 2011-12-10.
- ^ http://www.kelloggs.com.au/Home/Products/Cereal/SultanaBran/tabid/390/Default.aspx
- ^ Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. "Plant Facts: Christmas: Raisins". http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/plantfacts/festivefoods/raisins.html. Retrieved 2006-06-15.
- ^ "Sultana". Oxford English Dictionary (2nd ed. ed.). 1989.
- ^ a b "Sultana". American Heritage Dictionary (4th ed. ed.). 2000. http://www.bartleby.com/61/86/S0878600.html.
- ^ a b c Appellation America. "Thompson Seedless". http://wine.appellationamerica.com/grape-varietal/Thompson-Seedless.html. Retrieved 2006-06-15.
- ^ "United States Code of Federal Regulations, title 7, section 999.300". http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2003/7cfr999.300.htm. Retrieved 2006-06-15.
- ^ United States Department of Agriculture. "California Grape Acreage Report, 2002 Crop". Archived from the original on 2006-04-09. http://web.archive.org/web/20060409080806/http://www.nass.usda.gov/ca/bul/acreage/2002/200206gabnarr.htm. Retrieved 2006-06-15.
- ^ "United States Code of Federal Regulations, title 7, section 989.7". http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2003/7cfr989.7.htm. Retrieved 2006-06-15.
- ^ Gibberellin and Flame Seedless Grapes from a University of California, Davis website Retrieved on 2009-04-13
- ^ [1]
