Zante currants, Corinth raisins, Corinthian raisins or outside the United States simply currants, are raisins of the small, sweet, seedless grape cultivar Black Corinth. The name comes from the Anglo-French phrase "raisins de Corinthe" and the Ionian island of Zakynthos (Zante), which was once the major producer and exporter. It is not related to black, red or white currants, which are berries of shrubs in the genus Ribes and not usually prepared in dried form.
Left: Thompson Seedless grape raisins. Right: Zante currants.
Sun-drying Zante currants on Zakynthos, with the grape vineyard in the background
Currant buns
Hot Cross Buns
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