The summer before I became pregnant with Gabriel I was first introduced to the grapes that grow in Florida, muscadines and scuppernongs. These are not ordinary grapes – mainly because you don’t eat the skin and they are so sweet and delicious! The juice inside the grape is out of this world.
In case you’re wondering, here’s how you eat one of these babies: Pop a grape in your mouth, pierce the skin with your teeth, squeeze the slimy grape in your mouth and then squeeze the skin to get all the juice in your mouth. After you drink the delicious juice, with your teeth and tongue, remove the 3-4 seeds from the slimy grape. Spit them out on the ground. Chew up the grape, and smile. THAT is how you eat a muscadine.
Muscadines and scuppernongs are the pinnacle of Florida summers. It is so dang hot here and everything sucks. BUT, once these grapes are in season, all is right in the world. Today, Gabriel and I went to a friend’s farm and picked a few of the ripe grapes. I showed Gabriel how to not eat the skins and seeds, but he won’t let me help him squeeze the juice in his mouth. He says, “MINES!”. Oh yeah, we’re in the two’s.
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| Gabriel and I eating our grapes |
As if it weren’t already awesome that they taste so good, they are actually good for you! There’s this thing called Resveratrol and it’s supposed to help lower cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. In fact, I am confident that these grapes have way more health benefits than just those two, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant but I don’t have time to research it for you. If you were to take these grapes, wash them and then blend them whole in a blender and eat them that way (eat the entire grape and seeds) that is the way to get the most nutrients out of them. But, I just like the insides. 
Do you eat these grapes? Aren’t they fabulous?
Copyright © 2010-2011 Lindsey Morrow, Mother Rising Birth.
One Response to Summer’s Prize – Muscadines & Scuppernongs
Lindsey Morrow, along with her readers, rises from maiden to mother – one of the most profound and transformative journeys of life. She hopes to inspire women to be mindful in their experiences, revealing new questions and solutions each step of the way.
Bullets!! I love to squeeze them just near my lips so that the grape bursts into my mouth. I get the juice and sweetness without ever having any of the bitterness of skin. Since you're not from 'round these parts, I'm curious if you pronounce scuppernongs like my Gran does or the way it's written.