Basic Introduction to Hongyan Grapes
The cultivation and development of Hongyan grapes started in the 1970s. Due to the unique soil and climatic conditions in Hongyan, the grapes produced are sweet and delicious, with thick flesh and thin skin, having a distinctive honey aroma. They have high commercial value and good economic returns, leading to an increase in the number of farmers cultivating them over the years, gradually forming a scale that attracted significant attention from local authorities. Starting from 2000, large amounts of funding were invested to support the Hongyan grape industry, causing it to develop rapidly. Now, the planting area has reached more than 3,000 mu (approx. 200 hectares), involving 12 village groups across four villages: Hongyan, Dazhai, Guanling, and Wangjiaping.
Nutritional Value
Grapes are pleasantly sweet and sour, with plenty of moisture and rich nutrition. Most of the sugars contained in grapes are glucose, which can be directly absorbed by the human body, making grapes an ideal fruit for those with weak digestive systems. Grapes contain large amounts of tartaric acid, which helps digestion. Eating an appropriate amount of grapes can strengthen the spleen and stomach, providing great benefits to the human body.
Historical and Folklore
As per “The Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica” (《纲目拾遗》): Small grapes come from Turpan and are sold in Beijing. They are shaped like peppercorns and are a distinct variety of grape. According to “Miscellaneous Notes from the Purple Peach Studio” (《紫桃轩杂缀》), small grapes are one of the nine herbs mentioned by Shen Nong, long present in China, not brought back by Zhang Qian from the Western Regions;
Grapes are the fruits of plants in the genus Vitis, a deciduous vine, one of the world's oldest cultivated plants. Grapes are native to Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa. Archaeological evidence suggests that the earliest cultivated grapes were in the region between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea and its southern shores. About 7,000 years ago, grape cultivation began in South Caucasus, Central Asia, Syria, Iraq, and other regions. Many historians believe that Persia (modern-day Iran) was the first country to produce wine;
“Crystal Pearl” is a term of endearment for grapes due to their attractive color, abundant juice, and rich nutritional content. The fruit contains sugar levels of 10% to 30%, as well as various trace elements. They also help improve health and treat neurasthenia and excessive fatigue;
There are about 8,000 grape varieties worldwide, but only a dozen or so are commonly used for winemaking. Generally, they can be divided into two categories: wine grapes and table grapes. World cultivars belong to two main systems: European grapes (European grape) and American grapes (Fox grape). Depending on their origin, they are classified into Eastern varieties and European varieties. Long-cultivated Chinese varieties such as “Seedless White,” “Milk,” and “Black Chicken Heart” belong to the Eastern group. Varieties like “Muscat” and “Carignan” belong to the European group. They can be consumed fresh or dried for later use;
In terms of fruit history, grapes are the most ancient. According to paleobotanists, grape leaves and seeds have been found in Tertiary strata from the Cenozoic era, proving that grapes existed more than 6.5 million years ago. Some scholars believe that plants similar to grapes existed between 230 million and 67 million years ago.
Preparation Method
Homemade Wine
Ingredients
Grapes, rock sugar
Instructions
1. Wash the grapes and let them dry.
2. Crush the grapes and place them in an oil-free jar, add rock sugar, and cover.
3. After two days, press down on the grapes with chopsticks once every two days.
4. After three weeks, remove the grape residue and transfer the mixture to another clean bottle. Seal it tightly and after some time, it will be ready to consume.