Ingredient: Currants
Category: Dried Fruit
Season: All
The currant is a dried, small, sweet, seedless black grape (often Zante or Corinth grape, varieties) from the Ionian island of Zakynthos (Zante),
Not to be confused with: the Ribes berries "currants" (eg blackcurrant, redcurrant), which are in a different family altogether.
The name apparently comes from Old French "raisins de Corauntz"; "Zante" was recently added to the name to distinguish them from the ribes berries "currants".
The same technique is used to make raisins and sultanas
The grapes are coated with a harmless drying emulsion and left to dry in the sun.
When they are done a production line of sieves, combs and air jets removes the stems and any fragments of leaf or twig
Currants are very small and intensely flavoured.
They are often referred to as dried currants or just "currants" and in this form are used in cooking, especially baking and are a major ingredient in currant slice and currant cake.
In the United Kingdom, they are often used in scones, currant buns, Christmas cake, Christmas pudding and mincemeat.
They are sometimes sold mixed with raisins and sultanas as "mixed dried fruit". |