There’s nothing quite like chowing down on some grapes when you want a quick, healthy snack. These small, round, and delightfully juicy fruits are a favorite even among people who have a hard time getting their fruit servings in.
We at Thrive Cuisine believe in learning about where our foods come from. That’s why we’ll be talking about where grapes are grown. Later on in this post, we’ll also take an in-depth look at the benefits of eating grapes and different grape varieties.
Ready to learn more about grapes? Keep reading and we’ll share what we discovered.
Where are Grapes Grown?
Top 5 Countries for Grape Production | Grapes Produced Annually (Tons) |
---|---|
China | 9,600,000 |
United States | 6,661,820 |
Italy | 5,819,010 |
France | 5,338,512 |
Spain | 5,238,300 |
People have cultivated grapes for literally thousands of years. As soon as mankind discovered it was possible to make indulgent wines from them, cultivation of grapes became widespread.
It’s astonishing how much of the world’s grape supply is dedicated to wine production. To be precise, a whopping 71% of the world’s grapes are used to make the wines we all know and love.
Grapes grow all over the world nowadays, but they absolutely love environments with a lot of precipitation in the winter and warm summers. Countries that grow the most grapes overall include China, the United States, and Italy.
Figures look quite different when you consider who produces the most wine grapes. In that case, Spain, France, and Italy are the top grape growers.
There are also grapes growing in countries you might not expect to be hospitable to their growth, such as England and Canada. Both these countries are known for their ability to produce wine grapes.
Read More: 13 Spices that Go with Grapes
Grape FAQs
Which country eats the most grapes?
It’s not always enough to know where the most of a particular type of food is produced. It’s also sometimes important to examine which countries have the highest demand for the food, since that will usually be tied to its production.
That’s we looked for which country eats the most grapes. Sources show that the country that consumes the most grapes by far is China. Since China is also one of the world’s top grape producers, this isn’t terribly surprising.
What grape is the sweetest?
If you’re on the lookout for a sweet snack that you won’t regret eating later, grapes are worth your consideration. But with the hundreds of varieties that are out there, you may be left wondering what grape is the sweetest.
There are tons of sweet grapes to choose from, but champagne grapes are particularly well-known for their sweetness. Additionally, there’s a special type of grape called cotton candy grapes that was specifically bred to taste like cotton candy.
You May Also Like: Where are Cherries Grown?
Are cotton candy grapes healthy?
We could probably all agree that, at the very least, cotton candy isn’t exactly the healthiest food out there. This might leave you thinking that a grape called the cotton candy grape must also be quite unhealthy for you.
If you’re intrigued by the concept of grapes that taste like cotton candy, there’s good news: like other grapes, they’re still healthy for you. Their name doesn’t mean they’re loaded with all kinds of artificial sweeteners.
Which color grapes are the healthiest?
Grapes are broadly divided into two different color categories: red or white. Those looking for a healthy snack might be curious about whether they should reach for a bag of red or white grapes the next time they’re in the produce aisle.
When it comes to calories, both red and white grapes are virtually the same. Nutrient-wise, they are also both quite similar – grapes in general simply don’t have a lot of nutrients to offer you.
Red grapes do have an antioxidant called resveratrol, though, which helps protect you from an assortment of chronic diseases. This is oftentimes why many people will suggest you drink red wine rather than white.
In that sense, red grapes are perhaps a teensy bit healthier than white ones. In most other aspects, though, they’re equal.
Further Reading: Where are Dates Grown?
Wrap Up
Grapes are easily one of the most popular fruits in the United States – and probably around the world, too, given their use in making wine. As such, there’s a lot of history behind the grapes you see when you stroll through the produce aisle.
There are plenty of other fruits with interesting stories to tell. Take a look at our post about where apples are grown as an example.
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!