3 Easy Ways To Enjoy Grapes
Chile’s counter-sesonal harvest makes it easy for us in Canada to have access to grapes when local fresh harvest is not available. We can enjoy grapes from Chile from late November into May. There are many popular grape varieties like Red Globe, Crimson, and Thompson Seedless, but Chile has been introducing numerous new varieties including Chilean Muscats, Sweet Celebration, Midnight Beauty, Timco, Scarlota Seedless, Magenta, Sweet Jubilee, Timpson and Allison.
Chilean Muscat are a unique variety that was bred to be eaten out of hand. It has a rosy pink exterior with a golden ambery yellow interior. It is available for a short season from March to May. We were lucky to pick some up from Kin’s Farm Market
Below are 3 ways to enjoy grapes in your everyday life.
charcuterie board:
Using your favourite grapes, enjoy them on a board with meat, cheese, nuts, preserves, bread, crackers and bottle of wine!
When choosing table grapes, select ones that are firm, plump and firmly attached to the stems. The stems shuold be green and flexible.
Refridgerate grapes in their original package. They like space and need air so don’t crowd them. Grapes can keep for several weeks. Tip: if they start getting soft, you can bake/roast them!
The powdery-white coating on the grapes is safe to eat. Bloom is a naturally occurring substance that protects grapes from moisture loss and decay.
Note that “seedless” grapes actually have soft seeds.
Grapes are a good source of vitamin K, C and many of the B vitamins. They’re 82% water making a great way to stay hydrated! Grapes play a role in keeping you healthy.
Grape Smash Cocktail:
A quick to make and easy to drink cocktail inspired by grapes!
1) Extract juices from half a lemon
2) Muddle hand full of your favourite grapes and lemon juice
3) Fill serving glass with ice
4) Strain muddled ingredients to serving glass
5) 1.5 oz @sonsofvancouver
6) 0.5 oz @aperolcanada
7) 4 oz @fentimans_canada Rose Lemonade
8) Add whole grapes and stir
9) Garnish with mint
Optional 1: The natural sweetness of the grapes was enough for me but if you want it a bit sweeter, add agave!
Optional 2: If you really enjoy the mint, I would recommend muddling it in step 2 with the grapes and lemon juice!
Tip: Bought too many grapes? Throw some in the freezer. They make for a sweet and crunch frozen treat or use them as ice cubes!
Grape breakfast parfait:
This is another quick recipe for those of us in a rush needing something filling, sweet and hydrating. You can either assemble this in the mornings or premake a batch to grab and go.
Oat Milk Chia Seed Pudding:
1/2 cup chia seeds
1 1/2 cup unsweetened oat milk
Layer these ingredients:
1) Chilean Grapes
2) @earthsowncanada Oat Milk Chia Seed Pudding
3) @naturespathorganic Granola Pumpkin Seed & Flax
4) @avalondairybc Yogurt
5) Honey
6) Mint
Be creative! You can use anything you enjoy in your pantry! Cereals could be a yummy replacement to Granola too!
Disclosure: We were provided the grapes to create virtual demos. #FruitsFromChile #FruitFromChileCanada @fruitsfromchile