GRAPES 🍇
A Fruit Older Than Written History
Grapes are among the earliest cultivated fruits known to humanity, with archaeological evidence dating back over 6,000 years. From ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt to Greece and Rome, grapes were more than nourishment—they were symbols of divinity, fertility, abundance, and purity.
In Greek mythology, grapes were associated with Dionysus, the god of wine, celebration, and transformation. The Romans elevated viticulture to an art form, believing vineyards represented civilisation itself. Growing grapes was not merely agricultural—it was cultural and sacred.
The Colonial Trail of Grapevines
The global spread of grapes owes much to European exploration and colonisation. Missionaries, traders, and settlers carried grapevines across continents. Through colonial trade routes, grapes transformed from a regional crop into a global agricultural commodity, shaping cuisines, economies, and cultures wherever they took root.
India’s Enduring Affair with Grapes
In India, grapes have found fertile ground—both agriculturally and culturally.
Maharashtra leads the country in grape production, with Nashik, often called India’s Wine Capital, gaining international recognition for fresh grape exports.
Karnataka, the second-largest producer, is known for quality table grapes and raisins, especially in Bijapur and Bagalkot districts.
Tamil Nadu ranks third, with significant production in Theni, Krishnagiri, and Coimbatore.
India is now among the world’s important grape producers, contributing to both domestic consumption and global markets.
When Grapes Turn Luxurious
Not all grapes are humble. In Japan, Ruby Roman grapes redefine luxury. Cultivated under stringent quality standards, these grapes are prized for their exceptional size, deep red colour, sweetness, and low acidity. A single bunch can cost thousands of rupees and is often gifted as a symbol of prestige and respect. It is proof that even the simplest fruit can acquire extraordinary value based on care, cultivation, and culture.
Tiny Fruit, Powerful Benefits
Despite their size, grapes pack impressive health benefits:
Rich in antioxidants, especially resveratrol, which supports heart health
Aid circulation and help reduce inflammation
Provide vitamins, natural sugars, and quick energy
Support skin, brain, and immune health
Interestingly, many benefits lie in the skin of the grape. Nutritionists recommend washing grapes thoroughly to remove pesticide residue before consumption.
Green Grapes vs Black Grapes: Does Colour Matter?
Yes, colour does matter.
Green grapes are mildly sweet and refreshing, rich in vitamin C and K, ideal for hydration, digestion, and quick energy.
Black grapes contain higher levels of anthocyanins and antioxidants, linked to anti-inflammatory and potential anti-cancer properties.
Both varieties are nutritious, but your choice can depend on your health goal—refreshment or antioxidant boost.
The grape ritual
As the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, a quiet yet curious ritual unfolds. Participants sit with twelve grapes at the ready, eyes fixed on the final countdown. With each chime of the clock, one grape is eaten—chew, wish, swallow—until all twelve are consumed. Each grape symbolises one month of the coming year, carrying a silent hope or intention for what lies ahead.
Rooted in Spanish folklore, the tradition of eating twelve grapes at midnight is believed to invite good fortune, prosperity, and happiness for the year ahead. Simple in practice yet rich in symbolism, the ritual transforms an ordinary fruit into an edible calendar of optimism, where each passing second marks a wish for the future.
Quiet, personal, and hopeful, this grape ritual reflects a universal desire shared across cultures—the wish to begin a new year with faith, intention, and fresh beginnings.
From Vine to Wine, Fermentation
Beyond rituals and trends, grapes have long been valued for their remarkable ability to transform. One of the most celebrated products of grapes is wine, created through the natural process of fermentation, where yeast converts the fruit’s sugars into alcohol. This process, practised for thousands of years, gave rise to winemaking traditions across ancient civilisations, making wine one of the earliest fermented beverages known to humankind. Different grape varieties, climates, and ageing methods influence a wine’s flavour, aroma, and colour, turning grapes into a product of craftsmanship and culture. Apart from wine, grapes are also processed into raisins, grape juice, vinegar, and grape seed oil, each extending the fruit’s usefulness far beyond the vine. Through fermentation and preservation, grapes continue to bridge nutrition, tradition, and artistry.
Interesting Grape Facts
● There are over 8,000 varieties of grapes worldwide
● Grapes float in water due to their high water content
● In ancient Greece and Rome, grapes were used as medicine for wound healing
● Cabernet Sauvignon is among the most widely planted wine grape varieties
● Grapes are one of the few fruits used fresh, dried (raisins), fermented (wine), and juiced
