Raisins are made by drying which fruit?

Raisins are made by drying grapes. As grape berries lose water, their sugars and flavors become more concentrated, producing the chewy, sweet dried fruit used in snacks, baking, cooking, and brewing.

Raisins are traditionally sun-dried, although commercial producers also use shade-drying and controlled mechanical dryers. Because grape skins naturally slow moisture loss, producers may pre-treat the fruit to help water escape more efficiently.

Not every dried grape is marketed under the same name. Sultanas are typically golden dried grapes, while Zante currants are small dried Black Corinth grapes. Golden raisins may also be treated with sulfur dioxide to limit browning and preserve their lighter color.

The grape variety affects a raisin's size, color, sweetness, and texture. Seedless grapes such as Thompson Seedless are widely used, but larger varieties such as Muscat and monukka grapes are also made into raisins.