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Grape juice is a juice obtained from crushing grapes. The juice is often fermented and made into wine, brandy, or vinegar. In the wine industry grape juice which contains 7-23 percent of pulp, skins, stems and seeds, is often referred to as "must". Grape juice can also be sweetened and preserved as a non-alcoholic drink beverage.
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Commercial grape juice and grape juice drinks contain preservatives and coloring and sometimes vitamins. Like wine, grape juice also contains antioxidants such as flavonoids, providing some health benefits. These anti-oxidants have been implicated in many epidemiological studies with a reduction in coronary heart disease and cancer. However, it may not be the antioxidant properties of the compounds that provided the associated benefits.
Typically, purple grape juice is made from concord grapes.
A recent study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry found that purple grape juice was among the highest in antioxidants among the juices tested. Also high in antioxidant compounds were cloudy apple juice, cranberry juice, and pomegranate juice. [1] All fruit juices analysed in this study were purchased from a local supermarket. The choice of juices was based on the top selling flavours in the 2005 UK sales data. The study was funded by the USA National Grape Co-op of which Welch's is a member.
Welch's Grape Juice
- See also: Welch's
The method of pasteurizing grape juice to halt the fermentation has been attributed to an American physician and dentist, Thomas Bramwell Welch in 1869. A strong supporter of the temperance movement, he produced a non-alcoholic wine to be used for church services in his hometown of Vineland, New Jersey. His fellow parishioners continued to prefer and use regular wine. His son Charles E. Welch, also a dentist, eventually gave up his practice to promote grape juice. In 1893 he founded Welch's Grape Juice Company at Westfield, Chautauqua Co. NY. The product was given to visitors at international exhibitions.
As the temperance movement grew, so did the popularity of grape juice. In 1913, Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan served grape juice instead of wine during a full-dress diplomatic function, and in 1914, Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, forbid any alcoholic drinks be on board of naval ships, while actively replacing them with grape juice. During World War I, the company supplied "grapelade", a type of grape jam, to the military and advertised aggressively. Development of new grape products and sponsorship of radio and television programs made the company very successful.
Use in religion
- See also: Christianity and alcohol
Grape juice, because of its non-alcoholic content, is commonly used by Christian denominations (such as Baptists and Methodists[2]) who oppose the partaking of alcoholic beverages, as the "cup" or "wine" in the Eucharist.
Although alcohol is permitted in Judaism, grape juice is sometimes used as an alternative for kiddush on Shabbat and Jewish holidays and it has the same blessing as wine. However, many authorities maintain that grape juice must be capable of turning into wine naturally in order to be used for kiddush. Since most grape juices today contain preservatives that prevent fermentation, they would not be allowed for kiddush according to this opinion. Common practice, however, is to use any grape juice for kiddush. Note that as a grape-product, grape juice must be certified kosher.
See also
References
- ^ Publication: Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry Doi: 10.1021/jf062970x S0021-8561(06)02970-0 Title: Evaluation of Phenolic Compounds in Commercial Fruit Juices and Fruit Drinks Authors: William Mullen, Serena C Marks, and Alan Crozier
- ^ "Why do most Methodist churches serve grape juice instead of wine for Holy Communion?". The United Methodist Church. Retrieved on 2007-07-07.
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- This page was last modified on 2 September 2008, at 15:07.
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