Black Grapes vs Red Grapes: Head-to-Head Comparison

Apart from being used to make wine, grapes are also a well-loved snacking option worldwide. Like any other fruit, grapes are also available in different types or varieties. The two types of grapes that will be discussed here are red and black, both of which are more often than not confused with each other because of their similarity in appearance.

But as it happens, red grapes vary a lot from black grapes and the most basic of differences between them is the size and color. The black variety of grapes are smaller and darker in size than their red counterpart. They are available in seeded and seedless varieties, the latter of which is used to make red wine. Red grapes, on the other hand, are most easily visible in grocery marts because of their snackability.

Well, as I already mentioned, these grapes have some other differences as well and all of them including their benefits have been explored in this post.

Key Takeaways

• Black grapes and Red grapes are both popular grapes consumed globally.
• Black grapes are smaller and darker in color while red grapes are slightly larger and have a reddish hue.
• Black grapes taste sweeter and a little tangy while red grapes are just sweet or sour.
• Black grapes have fewer calories, carbs, and sugar and a lower glycemic index while being more in Vitamin C and Calcium.
• Both types of grapes are rich in antioxidants and have many health benefits.

Black Grapes vs Red Grapes

Let me establish something right from the outset. Grapes are an overall healthy fruit and have time and again been linked to several health benefits. So, there is no question about the fact that both black grapes and red grapes are healthy.

With that being stated, it is time to do a closer comparison and analysis for the sake of the black grapes vs red grapes debate.

As mentioned, grapes are a healthy food type. Despite being sweet, it is safe for consumption by people with diabetes. Both black and red grapes have a medium glycemic index. What that means is, that consuming either will not affect the blood sugar levels of patients.

Although, it must be mentioned that, grapes should still be eaten in moderation by diabetics and people with any heart disease as excessive consumption can cause adverse effects. However, this is true for every food out there and not just grapes.

5 Key Differences

The major points that set apart the two cultivars of grapes have been elaborated further below:

Physical Characteristics

The most obvious difference between black grapes and red grapes is that while black grapes are smaller in size and have a darker exterior, red grapes are slightly larger and have a more light skin with tinges of green, pink, or red.

Also, black grapes are more fragile than the red variety as their skin is less durable and breaks easily. Red grapes have a tougher exterior.

Taste

In terms of taste, black grapes certainly have an edge over red grapes. They are sweeter to the taste than their red counterpart and this is an important factor that is often considered while manufacturing red wine out of black grapes.

Red grapes can also be sweet to slightly sour. This makes them good additions to salads as well as an important ingredient for making white wine.

Nutritional Value

Black grapes have an overall better nutritional profile than red grapes. They have a lesser calorie count, more vitamin C, and more calcium while having a slightly lower glycemic index.

Although the difference in quantities of nutrients is not very large so as to make a huge difference that black grapes have a slighter edge, nutritional value-wise.

Anti-oxidant Content

Anti-oxidants are compounds present in certain food types that can combat substances known as free radicals that are linked to cell damage. Black grapes contain a large amount of antioxidants, especially flavonoids which have health benefits such as alleviating risks of cancer.

Price

Generally speaking, grapes are quite expensive. You will be shocked to hear that Muscat Grapes ( green in color ) which are mostly sourced from Japan and South Korea can be as expensive as $70 for a 500-gram box. This might be irrelevant information but helps to establish that grapes are generally steeper in price as compared to some other common citrus fruits.

The price point of black grapes may be because they, in particular, have a better nutrient profile and are used for manufacturing red wine, which adds to their value. Additionally, the supply of black grapes may not be as high as that of other fruits, leading to higher prices. Factors such as seasonal harvests and location of sourcing can also impact the price of black grapes.

Nutrition Facts

The following text provides an overview of the nutritional profiles of two distinct grape varieties. Nutritional profiling plays a crucial role in the classification of different food items as healthy, thereby facilitating the addition of specific foods to our diets in appropriate quantities.

By providing a comprehensive understanding of the nutritional composition of foods, individuals can make informed dietary choices that promote health and well-being. 

For the sake of consistency, seedless varieties of both types of grapes have been considered and the serving size has been kept to 100 grams.

While it is evident that the calorific value of the two grape varieties is not all that different, there is a significant difference in the nutrient counts, especially Calcium and Vitamin C. Black grapes have a considerably larger amount of both nutrients while also having lesser carbohydrates and slightly less sugar.

Black Grapes

Black grapes are a small, sweet fruit renowned for their intense blueish-purple color, which imparts a nearly black appearance. This unique coloration is attributed to their high concentration of anthocyanins, a class of flavonoids that are responsible for the pigmentation of black, purple, and blue fruits and vegetables.

Black grapes are available in multiple varieties, including seeded and seedless types, and are predominantly utilized for the production of red wine. Nevertheless, they are also a popular and nutritious snack or dessert option.

Health Benefits of Black Grapes

• Contains a large amount of Vitamin C which is a water-soluble vitamin and is often associated with alleviating risks of many chronic diseases.
• The dark color of the black grapes is due to the presence of anthocyanins- a class of flavonoids that are often hailed for their role in cancer prevention. ^[1]
• Black grapes also contain a class of antioxidants called resveratrol which has been said to have cancer-alleviation properties as well as anti-aging and anti-inflammation properties. ^{[2] [3]}
• The peel of black grapes contains a significant amount of polyphenolic antimicrobial compounds used for combating pathogenic microorganisms such as fungi. ^[4]
• The anthocyanin content of black grapes has been linked to reduced risks of cardiovascular diseases. ^[5]
• There is research that resveratrol intake can activate a protein called sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) that can reduce insulin resistance. This makes black grapes beneficial for people with diabetes. ^[6]
• Some other health benefits of black grapes include promoting skin health as well as protecting the skin against harmful UV rays.

Storage and Shelf Life of Black Grapes

Black grapes have a pretty long shelf life and a simple storage method. To ensure that they last as long as possible, it’s recommended that they are refrigerated at a temperature between 30F and 32F. As black grapes tend to absorb odors from other foods, it’s best to store them in an isolated area. Black grapes can last for up to 3 weeks when stored properly, and can even last longer if frozen.

What do Black Grapes Taste Like?

In their prime condition, black grapes taste sweet, pulpy, and juicy. The seedless varieties are juicier compared to the seeded ones. They also have a tinge of tanginess besides sweet and that makes it more delectable for the palette.

What are Black Grapes Used For?

Below listed are some areas for which black grapes are used:

• Red wine. (seedless variety)
• Fruit juice.
• Fruit salad.
• In regular salads.
• Jams and spreads.

Don’t miss:

Sweet Potato Chips vs Potato Chips
Potato Bread vs White Bread
7 Disadvantages of Eating Basmati Rice Everyday
1500 Calorie Vegetarian Diet Plan

Red Grapes

Red grapes are one of the most commonly cultivated and eaten varieties of the vine-growing grape family named Vinis vinifera. This is rather the scientific name for the European grape family which happens to be the most common species eaten across the world. Although purple grapes are likely the first ones to have been cultivated by the ancient Egyptians thousands of years ago, the red cultivar has been around for at least 1,200 years.

Health Benefits of Red Grapes

• Like Black grapes, these also contain satisfactory amounts of resveratrol which is linked with anti-cancer, anti-aging, and anti-inflammatory properties.
• It is a fruit with a low glycemic index which makes it ideal for consumption by people with diabetes.
• Dieticians often recommend red grapes in certain quantities as parts of a diet loss program as they are a filling snack that increases feelings of satiety and reduces the chances of overeating.
• The vitamin C, vitamin K, and Iron content of red grapes can improve hair health by protecting hair follicles.
• Consumption of red grapes or grapes, in general, has been linked with increased joint flexibility and reduced chances of knee-osteoarthritis-related pain. ^[7]

Storage and Shelf Life of Red Grapes

There is not much difference in storage or shelf-life between black and red grapes. They can be refrigerated for up to three weeks and frozen for almost 12 months. Freezing grapes can allow you to eat them even when it is not in season.

For eating at home a refrigeration temperature of 30F to 32F is sufficient

What do Red Grapes Taste Like?

Red grapes, while not as sweet as black grapes, are known for their rich and delicious flavor. They offer a pleasant sweetness without the tartness of green grapes or the tanginess of black grapes, making them a popular choice for snacking.

What are Red Grapes Used For?

Here are some of the things that red grapes are used for:

• As table grapes
• Snacks
• Raisins
• Fruit juice/grape juice
• Cocktails / Mocktails
• Salad toppings
• Wine
• Jams and spreads

Which is Healthier Black Grapes or Red Grapes?

Let us do an overview of the nutritional profile of both types of grapes, shall we?

• Black grapes have fewer calories, fewer carbohydrates, and lesser amounts of sugar.
• Black grapes contain high amounts of Vitamin C and Calcium that far surpass the content of red grapes.
• Black grapes have darker skin which means that the anthocyanin (antioxidant) that gives color to the exterior is also present in more amounts in black grapes.
• The glycemic index of black grapes is also lower than that of red grapes, although not by a lot.

Judging by these factors, it is clear that black grapes have a clear edge over red grapes in the health quotient. That being said, it should also be stated that red grapes are also quite healthy when compared to other organic snacking options available.

Don’t miss:

10 Nuts High In Iron
Why Do Bodybuilders Eat Gummy Bears
Why Do Bodybuilders Eat White Rice
Dr Dixit’s Diet Plan 

The Bottom Line

Just because something is considered healthy does not mean it should be consumed in large amounts as excessive consumption of anything at all can have adverse effects.

Another thing that needs to be kept in mind when dealing with grapes is that they can easily become choking hazards to children, pets, and old people and thus should be supervised when being eaten.

References

1. Wang, L., & Stoner, G. D. (2008). Anthocyanins and their role in cancer prevention. Cancer Letters, 269(2), 281-290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canlet.2008.05.020
2. Alesci, A., Nicosia, N., Fumia, A., Giorgianni, F., Santini, A., & Cicero, N. (2022). Resveratrol and Immune Cells: A Link to Improve Human Health. Molecules, 27(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27020424
3. Singh, A. P., Singh, R., Verma, S. S., Rai, V., Kaschula, C. H., Maiti, P., & Gupta, S. C. (2019). Health benefits of resveratrol: Evidence from clinical studies. Medicinal Research Reviews, 39(5), 1851-1891. https://doi.org/10.1002/med.21565
4. Yadav, D., Kumar, A., Kumar, P., & Mishra, D. (2015). Antimicrobial properties of black grape (Vitis vinifera L.) peel extracts against antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria and toxin producing molds. Indian Journal of Pharmacology, 47(6), 663-667. https://doi.org/10.4103/0253-7613.169591
5. Wightman, J. D., & Heuberger, R. A. (2014). Effect of grape and other berries on cardiovascular health. Journal of the science of food and agriculture, 95(8), 1584–1597. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.6890
6. Sin, T. K., Yung, B. Y., & Siu, P. M. (2015). Modulation of SIRT1-Foxo1 signaling axis by resveratrol: implications in skeletal muscle aging and insulin resistance. Cellular physiology and biochemistry : international journal of experimental cellular physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology, 35(2), 541–552. https://doi.org/10.1159/000369718
7. Tiernan, C. (2014). Grape consumption improves joint flexibility and reduces pain associated with knee osteoarthritis. Texas Woman’s University.