Reduced sugar raisin and method

• Main Authors: MICHAEL N. BAUMAN, ALICIA A. PERDON
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 21.08.2008
• Subjects: CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES; FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BYSUBCLASSES A23B - A23J; HUMAN NECESSITIES; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL; PRESERVING, e.g. BY CANNING, MEAT, FISH, EGGS, FRUIT,VEGETABLES, EDIBLE SEEDS; THE PRESERVED, RIPENED, OR CANNED PRODUCTS; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OFNUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; THEIR TREATMENT, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES

A method of producing a raisin from a grape is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of diffusing a portion of natural sugar out of a grape. The grape has an outer skin enclosing pulp and liquid. The natural sugar is diffused to reduce a sweetness of the grape from an original level of sweetness. The method includes the step of infusing an alternative sweetener into the grape after the diffusing step. The amount of artificial sweetener infused by the grape substantially compensates for the loss of sweetness associated with the portion of natural sugar that was diffused out the grape during said diffusing step. The method includes the step of dehydrating the grape to produce a raisin having a sweetness defined by the combination of natural sugar and alternative sweetener.