Currants, Raisins & Sultanas: The Differences, Revealed

Just because they're all dried grapes doesn't mean they're the same!

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Copyright Elaine Lemm

Pick up any baking recipe where dried fruits are involved and there is no way of avoiding the three stalwarts of currants, raisins, and sultanas. These three are used extensively in traditional British and Irish cakes and puddings. You will find them in many guises, but they are the main players in both a Christmas cake or Christmas pudding, and mince pies would be nothing without them. You will even find them in chutneys and curries making them, without a doubt, one of the most versatile ingredients in the kitchen.

So are they interchangeable? Are they simply the same thing but with just a different colored skin or a different name, depending on the country? The answer is no. They are, in fact, very different and each brings their unique qualities to the sweet and savory kitchen.

What Are Currants?

Dried currants on a white surface

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Firstly, the currants talked about here are a dried fruit and should not be confused with soft fruit currants such as black currants.

The currants mentioned here are the dark, black currants popular in cakes. You will find them in classic dishes like Spotted Dick or an Eccles cake. They are dried, dark red, seedless grapes often called the Black Corinth grape. The grapes are dried to produce a black, shriveled, sweet, flavor-packed fruit.

The grapes were originally cultivated in the south of Greece and more specifically, the island of Zante, hence the name Zante currant, used in the United States.

The name currant comes from the ancient city of Corinth. Other names for currants include Corinth raisins and Corinthian raisins. In the UK and Ireland, they are simply called currants.

What Are Raisins?

Raisins resting on a white surface
Scott Ehardt / WikiMedia Commons

Raisins are dried white Moscatel grapes. When they are dried the result is a dark, dried fruit much like a currant, making it dense in texture and bursting with a sweet flavor. The main producers of the Moscatel grapes are the United States, Turkey, Greece, and Australia.

Raisins can (unlike currants) soak up other flavors, which is why it is popular to soak raisins in flavored alcohols such as brandy or almond-flavored Amaretto before using in cooking. Raisins can hold all that flavor, making the finished dish even tastier.

What Are Sultanas?

Sultanas on wooden spoon
Umid Mamadaminov / publicdomainpictures.net

Sultanas, also known as golden raisins or sultana raisins, are dried white grapes, but of the seedless variety. They are golden in color and tend to be much plumper, sweeter, and altogether juicier than other raisins. They can absorb other flavors, but not quite as well as regular raisins. Turkey is the main producer of sultanas.

Can Currants, Raisins, and Sultanas Be Used Interchangeably?

Beyond all being dried grapes, currants, raisins, and sultanas are all a bit unique and will taste and appear differently in recipes. However, in a pinch, you can usually substitute one for the other with the exception of any recipe in which you want your dried fruit to absorb a lot of flavor. This is when sultanas, and especially raisins, shine, while currants will disappoint.