Muscat (grape)
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The Muscat family of grapes includes over 200 grape varieties belonging to the Vitis vinifera species that have been used in wine production and as raisin and table grapes around the globe for many centuries. Their colors range from white, to yellow, to pink to near black. Muscat grapes and wines almost always have a pronounced floral aroma. The breadth and number of varieties of Muscat suggest that it is perhaps the oldest domesticated grape variety, and there are theories that most families within the Vitis vinifera grape variety are descended from the Muscat variety.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and Muscat Noir showing the white and black-skinned color mutation of the variety
White Muscat – early ripening "July" variety
While there are theories that the origin of the Muscat family date back to ancient antiquity, there is no solid historical evidence that Muscat grapevines were among the grape varieties cultivated by civilizations such as the ancient Egyptians (papyrus image from the 15th-century BC tomb of Nakht).
The "musky" aroma of ripe Muscat grapes has been known to attract bees (pictured), flies and other insects
Raisin
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A raisin is a dried grape. Raisins are produced in many regions of the world and may be eaten raw or used in cooking, baking, and brewing. In the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, the word raisin is reserved for the dark-colored dried large grape, with sultana being a golden-colored dried grape, and currant being a dried small Black Corinth seedless grape.
A variety of raisins from different grapes
Golden raisins (sultanas)
California seedless grape raisins on the left and California Zante currants on the right, along with a metric ruler for scale.
Sun-dried raisins