Muscadines are a wild variety of grape. They grow all over the southeastern US on skinny little vines. They have lovely wide leaves, which look a lot like those on other types of grape vines. You can find Muscadines in the woods all over Georgia, but they can also be cultivated. Muscadines are usually purple, I think, and they're small to medium round grapes.Scuppernogs are a large variety of Muscadines. They are usually light green in color and are very round fruits. They have lots of soft, juicy flesh and squish easily when they're ripe. They have a tart-sweet flavor and the skin is a little tougher than a table grape. You can eat the seeds, but they're a little bitter. There are lots of health benefits attributed to Scuppernogs, but I don't know of any studies...one might assume that they have similar benefits as other grapes; in fact, I think I will!
Both Muscadines and Scuppernogs are delicious made into jam and jelly. They also make yummy pie, cider, and even wine! If you find wild ones, you'll have to fight away the birds, but it'll be worth it. Just be sure to stay away from anything that's been sprayed with herbicides alongside highways and roads. Enjoy!
1 comment:
I have a faint memory of reading that the seeds have a compound that helps prevent something. But I could be making that up. Those look beautiful.
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