The same but different?...

paulamathers · Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 8:37 pm Post subject: The same but different?...

I have wondered this for as long as i can remember, but always felt too dumb to ask! Raisens, currents and sultanas look and taste exactly the same to me, so what is the difference??????? You can buy all of them with or without seeds, they all come from different places, and they all cost pretty much the same. So why do they have different names?

Kate · Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 6:50 pm Post subject:

The sultana is a raisin made from the Sultana grape. In the states the sultana is known as the Thompson seedless grape.
They are golden raisins with a very sweet and unique flavor.
Currants are made from the zante grape, and is again another raisin, although much smaller than other types of grapes and result in the tiny currant.

As for the names, well a rose is a rose so they say. They can be interchanged in recipes with little or no difference in the finished product.The names simply come from the area and history. In the states we call sultanas golden raisins.

I had to ask what a sultana was. I was rambeling through the stock pantry looking for the elusive sultana, only to have one of the aides grab a bag of golden raisins and laugh at me. I read an old saying once, that any question asked in the quest for knowledge was not a dumb question.
_________________
A closed mouth gathers no feet.

paulamathers · Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 8:20 pm Post subject:

Thanks Kate, it's weird how different words mean the same things in differnet countries. I know i say that a lot!! I don't feel like it was a dumb question now!! Smile

Kate · Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 6:11 am Post subject:

My pleasure Paula! My Dad always said I was the queen of questions when I was little. I still am in many ways. I want to know everything, as long as there is a tiny spark of interest. There are things I wished I wanted to know more about, like cars. But I have Guido for that!
_________________
A closed mouth gathers no feet.

paulamathers · Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 9:06 pm Post subject:

its what men are useful for Smile

Kate · Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 6:52 am Post subject:

Yes...well that and other things Embarassed

......like opening jars haha!
_________________
A closed mouth gathers no feet.

paulamathers · Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 9:04 pm Post subject:

ha ha ha!