The Raisin
Jay S. Miller, CIP, CIT
Chief of Interpretation
Arkansas State Parks
What is a raisin? Just a common everyday little object.
But think…(make a mental mind map)…
Raisins are dried grapes. They are produced in many regions of the world, such as
the United States, Australia, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Greece, Turkey, India, Iran,
Pakistan, Afghanistan, Togo, Jamaica, South Africa, Southern and Eastern Europe.
Raisins may be eaten raw or used in cooking and baking.
The word raisin dates back to Middle English and is a loanword from Old French;
in Old French and French, raisin means "grape." while a raisin in French is called a
raisin sec, a "dry grape." The Old French word in turn developed from Latin
racemus, "a bunch of grapes," The origin of the Latin word is unclear.
Raisins are about 60% sugars by weight, most of which is fructose. Raisins are also
high in antioxidants, and are comparable to prunes and apricots in this regard.
Raisin varieties depend on the type of grape used. Seedless varieties include
Thompson Seedless (Sultana) and Flame.
Raisins are typically sun-dried, but may also be "water-dipped," or dehydrated.
"Golden raisins" are made from Thompsons, treated with Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) ,
and flame dried to give them their characteristic color. A particular variety of
seedless grape, the Black Corinth, is also sun dried to produce Zante currants, mini
raisins that are much darker in color and have a tart, tangy flavour. Several
varieties of raisins are produced in Asia and are only available at ethnic grocers.
Green raisins are produced in Iran. Raisins have a variety of colors (green, black,
white) and sizes.
Pass out raisins.
• Study the raisin using all your senses except taste.
• Study the raisin as though you are about to write a one page description
of its characteristics – shape, texture, color, hardness, etc.
• What is a raisin?
• How is it transformed into a raisin?
Updated and used by NAI with permission, August 2013
• Why would its name be changed? How old is the work raisin? Where did
that word originate?
• Is this raisin a winner or a loser? As a grape? As a raisin?
• Why is this raisin in your hand a raisin and not red wine?
• If there are vineyards, are there raisinyards?
• Think about how this raisin got to your hand: backtrack à your
hand…store…across country transportation…
industry…farm…pickers…field…time…history…continents…cultures
…languages
• What is the cost of this one raisin?
• What is the value of this raisin…nutrition...jobs…industry…money
• Printing boxes and packaging
• Who needs raisins?
You learn more from the biography of a single tree
than from the naming of 100 trees.
Enos Mills
• Explore the details.
• Enjoy and convey the beauty and the WONDER of nature’s
simplest things.
When you pick out a single thing
you find it connected to everything else in the universe.
John Muir
Updated and used by NAI with permission, August 2013