Consumers can enjoy a wide range of delicious and versatile South African raisins this season, despite reduced crop volumes.
Some 60,203 tonnes of raisins have been produced this season, representing a 24% drop from last years’ 78,757 tonnes. That’s due to wet weather compromising plant health and subsequently decreasing production.
Despite that, vines are looking much healthier this year, industry body Raisins South Africa reports, suggesting a much more promising season ahead for 2023/24. Leaves are also looking healthier, so while volumes may not reach its full potential, forecasts are for a better year ahead.
The industry is promoting itself in the UK via trade advertising in publications including The Grocer, British Baker and INC between August and November, together with social media outlining the USPs of raisins and offering recipe inspiration.
A key focus of the industry’s work is to highlight to consumers the wide range of varieties available, and their unique characteristics. They include:
- Thompson: Brown to dark brown, evenly coloured, free-flowing seedless dried grapes with a high natural sugar content and a characteristic, strong caramelised sweet flavour from being naturally dried in the direct sunlight. Thompsons are South Africa’s biggest product category.
- Goldens: Light yellow to deep gold, free-flowing seedless dried grapes with a high sugar content and strong sweet flavour, sulphured and naturally wind dried out of direct sunlight, as opposed to oven dried. South Africa is one of the biggest producers of Goldens in the world.
- Flame: Dark brown to black dried seedless grapes with a natural sweet flavour. Prepared from Flame grapes, they are naturally dried in direct sunlight for a product with a unique colour and tropical taste.
- SA Sultana: Can vary in colour, from light amber to dark brown, free-flowing seedless dried grapes, tender, soft-skinned, low sugar and sharp. SA Sultanas are naturally dried in the direct sunlight.
- Currants: Currants are dark brown to black dried seedless grapes with a natural flavour. They are grown in a Mediterranean-like climate in the Olifants River Valley, and naturally dried in direct sunlight. Currants are a unique product to South Africa and exclusively produced for the international baking sector, and South Africa is the second-largest producer of currants in the world, with 4,000-5,000t annually.
- OR sultanas: Uniform light brown to greenish colour. Free flowing, seedless dried grapes with a soft skin, low sugar and intense flavour. They are naturally wind dried, not in direct sunlight.
- Crimson: The Crimson raisin is produced from Crimson Seedless grapes, which have been treated with sulphur dioxide to retain the spectrum of red colours found in the variety. Crimson consists of red to pink berries that are jumbo in size and cylindrical to oval in shape. The skin of the grape is medium in thickness and the flesh is firm to crisp. It has superior eating characteristics, with an excellent, sweet flavour.
- Midnight: With a rich dark colour, Midnight Beauty raisins are produced from the seedless grape cultivar with the same name. With a jumbo-sized berry, it is a versatile raisin with a unique flavour.
Other jumbo-sized varieties include Goldens, Flame and Thompsons, giving consumers even further options for their culinary and snacking needs.
Ferdie Botha, chief executive of Raisins South Africa, said: “We are excited to offer consumers such a wide range of raisins, which we know will delight them with their flavour and versatility. Despite a difficult growing season, shoppers can expect a fantastic range of raisins to enjoy, and things are looking positive for next year’s export crop too.”