Grape

Sweet bunches that turn into raisins

Grapes grow on a vine — not a tree but a long climbing stem that spreads over a trellis and gives shade. Uzbekistan has grown grapes for 3,000 years; 'Husayni', 'Kishmish' and 'Toyfi' are famous varieties. Dry kishmish in the sun and you get raisins. One vine can live 100 years! Ancient Chinese travellers wrote about Samarkand's grapes.

The grape (Vitis vinifera) was domesticated 8,000 years ago in the Caucasus and Near East; it reached Central Asia 3,000 years ago, and the Zarafshan Valley and Fergana became ancient centres of viticulture. The Chinese envoy Zhang Qian (2nd century BC) took Fergana grapes to China. Uzbekistan has over 150 varieties: table (Husayni 'lady's fingers', Toyfi), kishmish (seedless, for raisins) and wine types. Over 1.5 million tonnes a year, and among the world's top ten raisin exporters. The vine is a liana grown on 'suri' trellises. Berries are rich in glucose and fructose (15–25%) and polyphenols (resveratrol). A vine lives over 100 years; Slovenia has one aged 400.

Fun facts

• A Chinese envoy took Fergana grapes home 2,200 years ago.
• The vine is a liana, not a tree, and lives over 100 years.
• Uzbekistan is among the world's top ten raisin exporters.