Raisins

Raisins, dried grapes, generally sun-dried, mentioned in early books of the Bible, and now largely imported into England. Some are dipped in potash-lye or in olive-oil to give them a gloss. The seedless varieties are known as sultanas. Most of our raisins come from Malaga, Valencia, and Alicante, the finest being known as Malaga clusters, which, as well as Malaga layers, are a muscatel grape. Smyrna raisins, of which the best are Eleme, are less imported; but all sultanas come from this district, The total value of raisins imported is nearly a million sterling per annum.