The harvest season from Australia is here again and let’s get ready to celebrate yet another season of Taste Australia’s juicy table grapes.
Australian grapes are available in more than 40 varieties and are renowned for their flavour, plumpness, and taste. Table grapes from Australia are categorized into seeded and seedless varieties which are either red, black, or green in colour. The four most popular are Thompson Seedless, Menindee Seedless, Crimson Seedless and Red Globe. While these public varieties are still very popular in domestic and export markets, there is a growing number of innovative and unique varieties developed by commercial breeders such as Adora, Cotton Candy, Golden Globe, Sweet Sapphire, Alison & Midnight Beauty.
Malaysians love grapes and these eye-catching bright coloured superfoods are the perfect anytime snack and adding them to your daily diet will give you a much-needed antioxidant boost. Made from approximately 80 percent water and containing high amounts of fibre, not only do they hydrate, cleanse, and detoxify active bodies but they help keep your gut healthy.
Not only are they sweet and crunchy but they sure do pack a punch too. Rich in phytonutrients, such as resveratrol, quercetin, anthocyanin and catechin, these jam-packed precious fruits are also a good source of vitamin C and Vitamin B6 that helps prevent heart diseases by inhibiting the build-up of plaque in coronary arteries, as well as inhibiting the growth of some cancers. But that’s not all! With a low glycaemic index (GI) and being both fat and cholesterol free, grapes are also a great source of long-lasting energy and a perfect pick-me-up when you are peckish.
The benefits do not just end there. Grapes are also known for being great for the eyes. New research has revealed that eating grapes helps protect healthy retinal cells from damage and helps stabilise blood glucose levels after a meal, making them ideal for elderly parents or grandparents.
Taste Australia trade efforts are being delivered through Australia’s grower-owned Research and Development Corporation, Hort Innovation, with AUSTRADE. Hort Innovation Head of Trade Brei Montgomery said Australian grapes have a remarkable history and legacy dating back to more than a century ago.
With warm, dry summers and deep, rich soils, Australia provides an excellent environment for growers to produce world-class table grapes. The warm sunny days and cool nights result in high-colour, sweeter and tastier grapes that are available from November through to May, with the peak export period extended from January to May.
These superfruits are produced in the premier grape growing region of Sunraysia (Mildura and Robinvale) in Victoria, and throughout South-Eastern Queensland. Other growing regions include Carnarvon and the Swan Valley in Western Australia, the Riverina district in Central New South Wales, the South Australian Riverland, and central Northern Territory.
When selecting grapes, an important indication of freshness can be seen from the green stem and the presence of powdery white on the skin called bloom. Grapes which have bloom are generally picked more recently and had very little contact with moisture, which means it was transported through efficient cold chain. Another top tip when selecting green grapes is to choose a bunch with a golden tint, as this means they are sweeter in flavour.
At the recent launch of the Embracing Grapeness campaign, Chef Annette of TCH Foodworks spoke about pairing food with table grapes, and said the flavour profiles of grapes go well with poultry and lamb. “Grapes are so versatile and pairs well with a large variety of specialty cheeses such as brie, blue cheese, ricotta as well as nuts. They can be the perfect addition to a sweet or savoury recipe for a refreshing twist. You can even cut them in half, freeze, and use them instead of ice as a natural way to chill and sweeten drinks. Grapes also fits well for children’s meals as they are bite sized, easy to pack and incredibly sweet.”
To get your hands on this much-loved Australian fruit, head down to participating supermarkets including AEON, Jaya Grocer, Village Grocer, Giant, TMC, Cold Storage & Mercato to enjoy their perfectly fresh and sweet taste.
Read also: Gourmet South Australia Set to Tantalise Taste Buds
