Raisin vs Sultanas

[Gerbil Girl]

What is the difference between a sultana, a currant and a raisin and where do they come from?

Actually, come to think of it, what about prunes?

[Clanad]

A raisin is a dried grape of one variety or another, while a prune is a dried plum, and dried currants, at least here in the U.S. are called... well... dried currants. We don't have a product aclled sultanas, however they are a variety of light colored grape that's dried. Here in the U.S. we would probably call it a Golden Raisin, which are dried white grapes...

[rosyrussell]

Raisins, sultanas and currants are all made from different varieties of dried grapes - currants and raisins from black grapes, sultanas from white grapes. Prunes are dried plums.

[Pinotage]

There is a variety of of grape called Sultanas. Sultanas are dried grapes of that variety.

[moppettshow]

Raisins are dried black grapes; sultanas dried white; currants dried blackcurrants; prunes dried plums. Which makes me wonder why prune juice isn't called plum juice.

[m_west_gaul]

Currants, sultanas and raisins, including those still on the bunch, are known collectively as "raisins. The difference between these three dried fruits is explained below:

-Sultanas: seedless, large-berried and light yellow. Larger than currants and smaller than raisins.
-Currants: seedless, small-berried, purple/black color. Their name derives from the Greek city of Corinth.
-Raisins on the bunch: seeded, large-berried, generally with stalk.

Prunes are the fully ripe fruit still containing their stone of the plum tree (rose family, Rosaceae) which have been preserved by drying.

The following types are distinguished:

-Prunes: fresh, blue-black, glossy; form a whitish coating of crystallized sugar after extended storage.
-Dipped prunes: prunes which have formed a coating of crystallized sugar but regain a blue-black, glossy appearance by dipping in boiling water.
-Steamed prunes: prunes which have been given a glossy appearance by steam treatment.
Slabs: waste product intended for industrial use.