In England recipes calling for raisins will usually list sultanas instead. If you are making a British recipe or any dish that calls for sultanas, you can use brown or golden raisins in their place.
The name currant comes from the ancient city of Corinth. Other names for currants are Zante currants, Corinth raisins, or Corinthian raisins. In the UK and Ireland, they are simply called currants.
The Sultana is actually a variety of grape. A raisin is the result of drying any grape. The confusion comes as the Sultana is the best variety for the drying procedure as it is small, sweet and seedless, so most raisins are referred to as sultanas.
Sultanas are a type of raisin. You might hear them called “golden raisins.” Like most raisins in the United States, sultanas are made from Thompson Seedless grapes. They are medium-sized green grapes and are grown primarily in California.
The Bottom Line
Raisins are made from a range of grape varieties. They are dried naturally and are usually the largest of the three. Sultanas are made from seedless green grapes. They are often dipped in a solution prior to drying, which speeds up the process.
Sultana is the main dried grape variety grown in Australia. Sweet and golden, sultanas are harvested early in the season, with the process starting mid-February. The variety originated from the Iranian town of Soultanleh, from which it gets its name. It found its way to Australia in 1867.
Raisins are made using green seedless grapes and they are mostly sundried without any additives and preservatives. This retains the concentration of nutrients and makes it a much healthier alternative to sultanas.
The sultana is a "white" (pale green), oval seedless grape variety also called the sultanina, Thompson Seedless (United States), Lady de Coverly (England), and oval-fruited Kishmish (Iraq, Iran, Israel, Palestine, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India).
Can dogs eat grapes? They may seem like a perfectly harmless treat, but did you know that grapes, sultanas, currants and raisins can all cause kidney injury in dogs?
Black raisins, also known as kali kishmish, are derived from dried black grapes.
What are sultanas? Sultanas are apparently the most common dried grapes grown in Australia. They are actually known as raisins in the US (which can be somewhat confusing!). They are sweet, golden and perfect in cakes, muffins and cupcakes.
On mainland Europe, they are all simply called raisins, whereas in the UK they are differentiated into raisins, sultanas and currants. In this instance the term currant refers to the Zante currant, not the fruit of the Ribes genus.
The difference between raisins, sultanas, and currants is their color, size, taste, and where they are grown. Here's a quick guide to these sweet dried fruits and how to use them in your cooking and baking.
"Raisin" generally refers to grapes in old French, and English borrows the word from French. In many years of international trade, people are used to calling dried grapes "raisins". Raisins are fresh grapes that have been sun-dried and shade-dried, which can be made from a wide variety of grape types.
As far as flavor and texture go, golden raisins are similar to sultanas. They're both sweet and slightly chewy, making them ideal for baked goods.
Dried grapes have the generic name 'Raisin' in the USA but in England and Commonwealth countries including Australia and New Zealand the consistent distinction is made between large seeded, and usually dark-coloured, Raisins and the similar sized but seedless and light-coloured sultanas.
Do not ever feed the following substances as they are toxic to dogs (note this is not a complete list): alcohol, onions, onion powder, garlic, chocolate, coffee or caffeine products, mouldy or spoiled foods or compost, avocado, bread dough, yeast dough, grapes, raisins, sultanas (including in Christmas cakes etc), ...
Yes, dogs can eat bananas. In moderation, bananas are a great low-calorie treat for dogs. They're high in potassium, vitamins, biotin, fiber, and copper. They are low in cholesterol and sodium, but because of their high sugar content, bananas should be given as a treat, not part of your dog's main diet.
Dogs can eat tomatoes but only in small amounts. Ripe tomatoes are considered nontoxic to dogs and can be fed in moderation as an occasional snack.
Sultanas contain natural sugars for energy, concentrated dietary fibre, essential minerals and health promoting polyphenol antioxidants.
Currants and raisins are very similar in nutritional value. They closely match in carbohydrate count, protein, fiber, sugar, potassium and vitamins C and K. A one-ounce serving of raisins has 95 calories compared to the 79 calories in the same size serving of currants. Both of these dried fruits contain no fat.
You can use Zante currants and raisins (both of which are dried grapes) in sweet or savory dishes, such as sweet buns, cereals, granola, trail mix, or chutneys.
Soaking the raisins increases the bioavailability of nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. Soaked raisins also help in digestion as well as constipation.
An added bonus is that raisins contain no fat, saturated fat or cholesterol, and are packed with health-promoting nutrients like fiber, antioxidants and potassium. All of these attributes make raisins a great food choice for diabetics—and healthy individuals too!
Among dried fruits, apricots lead the way in beta-carotene, an antioxidant linked to improved brain functioning and a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.