The exquisite muscatel of Axarquía and Manilva

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 converted 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.