Grape Juice.
Growing up in Pennsylvania my father always had grapes. It wasn’t fall unless you could walk by those vines and pop a handful of concord grapes in your mouth. The cool sweet insides were like candy and my mouth still waters at the memory!
Now as an adult, with a farm of my own the cooler weather in South Carolina means it is Scuppernong grape time. With the harvest comes a sweet smell floating around my kitchen that is heaven to the senses. I have been busy making grape juice, and hubby has a batch of wine brewing, but what pleases me the most about a good grape crop is all the benefits grapes have on our overall health.
My father got me hooked on homemade wine when he taught me how to make it as an adult, and I love nothing more than to share a glass with my hubby, but my love for grapes go way beyond a glass of wine.
While hubby loves his wine making, it is my job to serve him healthy meals, and that includes his daily dose of grape juice.
Is grape juice good for you?
Grapes are one of those underutilized fruits in my book. They are packed with wonderful cancer and aging fighting ingredients and are thought to be one of the earliest forms of medicines.
Here are just a few reasons why I love growing grapes and why grape juice will always be in my pantry:
- They have anti-aging benefits
- They reduce your risk of food-borne illnesses
- They have anti-cancer benefits
- They help with brain power
- They help with overall bone health
- They help reduce asthmatic events
- They help with migraines
- They help reduce acne
The professionals say that an adult should drink at least 8 ounces a day, and children 6 ounces to reap all he benefits grape juice has.
For us, we wish we could preserve a big bowl to just snack on all year long! Since grape harvest is coming to a close, we will have to settle for the canned juice I have been busy making!
Do you serve grape juice to your family?
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This post is linked up to many of my favorite blog hops and link parties. Won’t you go visit some?
Hidden away in Central South Carolina is a little farm where we call home. Surrounded by pine trees, chicken farms, and lots of sandy soil we live a very simple lifestyle by the grace of God.
What a blessing to have your own grapes!
Daisy I bet when you move to NC you will be able to grow grapes so you can have your own as well!
how do you make and can your juice?
Rue I have made my juice a couple different ways. This year I added the 1 1/2 cups of washed grapes to a jar along with 1/3 cup of sugar and then poured boiling water on them and pressure canned them. Other years I have extracted the juice and canned the juice. I always use the recipe out of my Ball Canning Book.
Hi Tracy, Our patio is covered with grape vines but they are green grapes. I wonder if they have the same health benefits of the purple… I will have to look into that! Thanks for sharing!
Jes I know red grapes have more health benefits but white or green grapes do as well.
I enjoyed this article and have loved homemade concord grape juice since childhood, when my mom would give it to me hot when I was sick. As an adult I drink it hot just because when my grapes produce. Something has been troubling my grapes the past two years so I have not been able to make juice but I have shared hot juice with lots of my friends and family much to their delighted surprise.
I have never heard of heating it and using it when you were sick. Was it a cold or upset stomach she gave it to you for?
I’ve heard that grape juice helps prevent stomach bugs, too! Thanks for linking up at the #homematters linky party! We hope to see you again this coming Wednesday!
I read that as well. Grape juice and red wine have so many great health benefits!
I found this post by visiting the Frugal Friday Link Up Party. Is it strange I love grapes and eat them all the time, but I just don’t like the taste of store bought grape juice. I wonder if I would like homemade better? Thanks for sharing.
You just may like it better…you will need to try it.