Sultanas and Thompson raisins
Raisins are in fact dried grapes. The grapes are called sultanas if they are dipped before drying. Doing so accelerates the drying process and the grapes are then ready in 10-12 days.
They vary in colour from light brown to dark brown. In Turkey, different colour numbers are assigned to raisins, from number 7 (dark brown) to number 11 (very light brown). Number (type) 9 is the most popular colour in the Netherlands.
Thompson grapes are dried immediately after picking and usually lay in the sun for three weeks. Thompson raisins are mostly produced in the United States.
