Currants are a superfood worthy of the name. These tiny Greek dried grapes boast an impressive nutritional profile, and contain high quantities of essential vitamins and minerals such as Iron, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Manganese, Zinc, as well as antioxidants such as flavonoids and anthocyanins.

Traditionally used in sweet dishes across Europe, currants have been cultivated in Southern Greece, in the Peloponnese and the regions on the Ionian coast since the times of the ancient Greeks. The export industry drove the local economy to prosperity in the second half of the 19th century, however the industry suffered collapse from the 1890s to 1910s due to market pressures from new competing producers, and has never fully recovered since.

Currants have many health benefits which are not as well known to the public when compared to other fruit with similar nutritional values, such as blueberries, one of the most popular superfoods which actually contains fewer anthocyanins than the humble currant. The wide range of nutrients found in currants could help prevent the onset of many cancers and diseases, such as Heart Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease and Osteoporosis as well as reduce the risk of Strokes.