Sultanas - also called raisins - are a common dried fruit found all over the world. Its origins, however, are to be found in Greece, Turkey and Iran: indeed, the name ‘sultana’ is linked to the Sultan, ruler of the Ottoman Empire.
Its story began, it is believed, when the Ottoman Sultan, to flee a tiger, abandoned the grape harvest, leaving the grapes to lie in the sun for some considerable time. On his return, he noticed that the grapes had not gone bad; on the contrary, they were particularly good to taste.
Tradition has it that the name "sultana" derives from the "Sultan", that is, from the ancient ruler of the Ottoman Empire. And in fact, one of the most prized varieties grows in Turkey, in the Izmir area. In Europe, other varieties from Corinth and Malaga are just as well-known.
