No doubt you prefer the seedless varieties and who doesn't, as those pips are fiddly and can spoil the enjoyment of an otherwise lovely fruit. You probably have a preference for green or red grapes - I always go for the red ones, but I think I am swayed by the nutritional benefit of dark fruits as much as their taste!
- There are a staggering 8000 varieties of grape, so no wonder there are so many wines to choose from!
- Once picked, grapes won't ripen any further, but are best kept in the fridge to keep them crisp and fresh.
- Grapes are packed with antioxidants, particularly the red, purple and black varieties, which are thought to protect your heart and reduce the risk of cancer.
- When grapes are dried, you get raisins. The antioxidants are very concentrated, but so too are the sugars, so sticking to a tablespoon at a time is advisable. Like other dried fruit, raisins are a source of iron.
- Two and a half pounds of grapes go into a bottle of wine, but unfortunately it won't count towards your 5 A Day! A small glass of grape juice (125ml) on the other hand will, and provides the same antioxidant benefits that a glass of wine does.
- Although we might only eat the flesh, the seeds and vines have their uses too. The seeds are pressed to make grape oil and the vines are used to make baskets and wreaths.
Besides making a good snack, try the following:
- Freeze grapes and use in place of ice cubes in drinks
- Dotted around, they make a nice addition to salads
- Grapes and cheese go hand in hand, so why not add some halved grapes to cottage cheese in a baked potato or crackers topped with soft cheese?
- I've not tried this one myself, but they can be used as a pizza topping - think of them as sweet olives
- Add to chopped banana, apple and kiwi with a splash of orange juice to make a refreshing fruit salad
- Add a handful to cereal or muesli
- Mix with chopped apple, natural yoghurt and a drizzle of honey for breakfast or a dessert
- Set in a jelly
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