This Concord grape juice recipe brings more than just nutrients to the table. It looks gorgeous, is super fragrant, and tastes beyond wonderful.
What Makes Concord Grape Worth the Hype?
Concord grapes are among the most luxurious when it comes to grapes, and there is good reason for that.
The Concord grape is a cultivar, a plant that went through loads of selective breeding and was finally chosen for its extraordinary traits. Indeed, it brings memorable experiences.
In terms of texture: the dark, thick skin gives a loud crunch when bitten. After that comes flooding out the sweet, fragrant juice packed within these little berries.
How fragrant is Concord grape juice? It has a more pungent smell than regular kinds, with the usual floral sweetness, but is slightly musty.
Besides the flavor and texture, the grapes are only grown in specific regions and have a relatively short harvest season. This makes Concord grapes somewhat rare, so they are priced a bit higher than regular grapes.
By chance, if you run into fresh Concord grapes, make sure to bring home a vine or two. It will give you an unforgettable experience.
Is Our Concord Grape Juice Healthy?
As delicious as it is, our Concord grape juice recipe also yields certain health benefits.
1. Packed with Antioxidant Compounds
Grapes are famous for polyphenols— micronutrients with antioxidative characteristics. One study found that Concord grapes contain the largest amount of polyphenols among grape varieties.
For instance, its skin is rich in anthocyanins, a polyphenol found to be “antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anti-obesity.” This research also confirms that anthocyanins extracted from grapes are potential pharmaceutical ingredients.
2. Boost Heart Health
One study concluded that polyphenols can be used in the treatment of several diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. Their antioxidative characteristics “inhibit the inflammatory process,” which is one cause of coronary diseases.
3. Improve Memory
A study on rats found their motor functions visibly improved with Concord grape juice included in their diet. They performed better at finding the way out in the “Morris water maze” navigation task.
“How is this relevant?” you may ask. Since rats have biological activities similar to humans, their changes can tell a lot about the changes of the human body.
However, more research is needed to make sure that concord grape juice has such a beneficial effect on the brain.
4. Aid Immune System
Frequent consumption of Concord grape juice has also been shown to increase Gamma delta T cells. These cells detect intruders present in our bodies and trigger immune responses if necessary.
Grapes, in general, are really healthy. Besides this Concord grape juice recipe, we also have other grape juice recipes, where you can find a drink to help your body’s detox system or a refreshing summer drink.
Calories
Each serving of this delicious, gorgeous Concord grape juice recipe provides you around 120 calories alongside the nutrients. All of the calories come from pure Concord grapes and a little bit of added honey for flavor.
How Long Does It Last?
When it comes to storing foods, there is no exact timeframe to indicate how long the food is safe to consume. However, we can give you some approximations:
1. Room-temp
Generally, juices stored at room temperature should be consumed within 2-3 hours after making. Bacteria are quite active at this temperature, which can make your juice go bad really fast.
2. Refrigerated
Fresh juice stored correctly in the fridge, on the other hand, can last up to 2 days after making.
To keep the juice longer, you can reduce its exposure to air by storing it in an airtight container.
You can store the juice in a bowl and cover it with cling wrap, but allow the wrap to touch the juice. This minimizes the amount of air trapped in the bowl, hence limiting the chance of spoilage.
3. Frozen
Freezing is the best method to store any juice. Freeze it properly and it can maintain its quality for up to 1 month.
A rule of thumb is always to have a little taste of the juice after thawing, just to check. If it develops a strange taste/smell, it has gone bad and should be discarded.
If you’re a big fan of juice, this healthy juice roundup might be of help.
Concord grape juice recipe
For this Concord grape juice recipe, you'll need ingredients, a saucepan, a bowl, a sieve, and a large piece of cheesecloth. It takes some time, but the result is really rewarding.
- by Luna Regina, 2020-10-21
- cook TIME 10 mins
- prep TIME 10 mins
- total TIME 20 mins
- COURSE Beverage
- CUISINE American
- SERVINGS servings
- CALORIES 119 kcal
INGREDIENTS
- 16 fl oz Concord grape juice ((from 40 oz Concord grapes))
- 1/4 cup water
- 8 tsp honey
- 1 tsp lime juice
- 1 tsp rosemary (fresh)
- 2 cups ice cubes
INSTRUCTIONS
In a small saucepan, add 40 oz Concord grapes, 1/4 cup water, 8 tsp honey, 1 tsp lime juice, and 1 tsp rosemary. Simmer over medium-low heat for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and leave to cool.
Add the mixture into a blender. Blend until well mixed.
Place a strainer over a bowl and cover with a cheesecloth. Pour the blended juice onto the cheesecloth and gather the four corners to form a pouch. Twist and squeeze the juice into the bowl. Discard the residue.
Pour the juice into a pitcher. Serve over ice.
NUTRITION
Tuyet Pham
Head Chef, Culinary ConsultantLuna Regina
Writer, AuthorLizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD
Nutrition Reviewer- Rex HousermanDelicious and refreshing, this juice is a must-try for any grape lover!