Nature's Healthiest Fruits

October 04, 2007

How about eating "nature's healthiest fruits" – Scuppernong and Muscadine grapes?

Scientists have recently discovered that North Carolina's native grapes, grown only in the southeastern United States and available from late August through early October, are one of the "Worlds best natural sources of the powerful antioxidant Resveratrol!"

Beginning with the Copenhagen study "our grapes" have proven to be a great resource for healthy phytochemicals (chemistry of plant products) scientifically shown to contain Resveratrol, a reducer of heart attacks and strokes. They also contain "Ellagic acid," a strong anti-oxidant, which inhibits some forms of cancer.

Of course this health factor is not news! As far back as 1885, druggists recommended Scuppernong brandy for it's medicinal properties. Botanists believe that these high levels of Resveratrol are developed as a defense mechanism placed on these grapevines by the hot humid climate of the southeastern United States.

Not only are scuppernong and muscadine grapes very healthy, they are also a very pleasant sweet tasting grape and make wonderful jams, jellies, pies, juices and wine.

Now for a little history. Scientists have classified both the scuppernong and muscadine grapes as belonging to the Rotundifolar classification. Referred to in the "wild state" as Vitis Rotundifolar. Actually, all scuppernongs are muscadines, but not all muscadines are scuppernongs.

The name muscadine is a broad category of grape that includes many varieties of both bronze and black grapes. With the scuppernong grape being one of the oldest and most popular variety of grapes, the name is sometimes used to refer to any bronze variety, which includes the Carlos, Magnolia, Fry, and Triumph grapes. We now know that the scuppernong grapes were the first muscadine grapes discovered in America.

Where did the name "muscadine" originate? When the early settlers arrived in America they were familiar with the Muscat grape, which is a French grape that is used in making Muscatel wine. The word Muscat derives from the Latin "muscus," which describes the smell of a male musk deer.

With their knowledge of the Muscat grape and the smell of the musk deer, the settlers called the sweet, musk-scented wild grapes they found by the same name as the sweet grapes they had known in Europe that eventually became known as Muscadine.

The muscadine today includes the black varieties known as the Noble, Nesbitt, Black Fry, and Supreme grapes.

So eat up! Will you have scuppernong or muscadine, or maybe both? Since we now know according to the "French Paradox" that these grapes and their products (jellies, jams, pies, juices and wines) contain more Resveratrol than any other fruit or vegetable and up to "40 times" more anti-oxidants than the vinifera grapes from Europe.Enjoy!

Buddy Harrell, Bennett Vineyards