Raisins with the Málaga Designation of Origin are an exclusive product of the province and, more specifically, of the Axarquía region and the Costa del Sol municipality of Manilva. It is an ancestral product that is made from muscat grapes. These, after being harvested in a traditional way, are dried in the sun in a natural way. This natural process of transforming grapes into raisins is the only one allowed by the Regulation of the Denomination of Origin of the Málaga Raisin, which guarantees its quality and traditional production. The result is a raisin with differentiating characteristics in terms of flavor, texture and color.

In the last days of summer, after the harvest, natural drying takes place in the different walkways that still resist the passage of time today. On these small surfaces, with a minimum inclination of 8 percent for drying in the sun, the ripe grapes are spread out for raisining. In approximately two weeks, depending on weather conditions, the grapes can be completely dehydrated and turned into raisins. Of course, at the halfway point of that period the bunches will have to be turned over so that they dry completely. The process, after drying, continues manually with the so-called 'chopping', which is used to shell the raisins manually. It is still customary that this task and the previous ones are carried out by entire families, dedicated after the harvest to one of the historical products of Malaga.

Characteristics

The result will be a relatively large raisin, especially when compared to other raisins that can be found on the market such as sultanas or Corinths. The DO Regulation establishes, in fact, that there cannot be more than 80 fruits in 100 grams. In addition to its dimensions and rounded shape, its color is unmistakable, since natural drying gives it a violet black that has little to do with the reddish or other colorations obtained in early harvests or artificial drying processes. But, what most defines the raisins with the Málaga Designation of Origin is their muscat flavor, which is reinforced by an intense retronasal aroma.

Did you know that...

“The muscat raisin has had great international prestige for its quality from the 19th century to the present day”

Region

The raisin made from the Muscat grapes of Malaga or Alexandria comes in two very well differentiated notes. On the one hand, in Manilva, the municipality of Malaga located in the western end of the province, where this tradition still survives both around this product and the wines. On the other hand, in the Axarquía region, on whose slopes muscat grape vineyards have been cultivated for centuries for their transformation into both wines and raisins.

Origin

The production of the muscat raisin can be traced back to Roman times, although it achieved great notoriety during ancient Al-Andalus. In this period, raisins from the Axarquía area became famous, with clear references to enclaves such as Colmenar, Jotrón or Santopitar. But, the splendor of this dehydrated fruit came especially during the last decades of the 19th century. Along with Muscat wine, it came to enjoy world fame. What is not very clear is the origin of the Muscat variety and how and when it was introduced to the Iberian Peninsula.

Properties

Raisins have boron and iron among their most prominent elements. The first is a fundamental mineral for the body, especially for the bone system. Due to its high alkalinity, this dried fruit also serves to maintain the acid balance of the human body. Its richness in fiber produces a good effect to treat constipation. Finally, its phenols generate an important antioxidant action.

Route

The importance of the muscat raisin in the Axarquía region is such that decades ago a tourist itinerary was established through the towns that produce it the most. This Moscatel Raisin Route runs from Rincón de la Victoria to towns such as Benagalbón, Moclinejo, Almáchar, El Borge and Cútar. In all of them the landscape is the result of the production of the Muscat grape, with large areas of vineyards, which are dotted with traditional winepresses and wineries.

Festivities

Coinciding with the end of the muscat raisin campaign, gastronomic festivals coincide in Axarquía that vindicate the importance of this historical product. One of the most important is the one celebrated in El Borge in mid-September: Raisin Day. There, in addition to being able to buy the fruit, you can see a recreation of the process of transforming the grape into this product. Also particularly noteworthy are the La Viñuela Raisin Festival, which takes place on similar dates, the Viñeros Festival, in Moclinejo, and the Ajoblanco Festival, in Almáchar.