Have you ever wondered why grape flavored sodas, jellies, and candies taste the way they do? If you’re like me and you never grew up ever being exposed to concord grapes, it’s a totally rational thought. I mean, grape flavored things taste nothing like white/green grapes, nor red, nor black. I used to figure it was some sort of cheap concocted thing from a lab. That is, until I met the concord grape. I had never seen them until I went to a farmer’s market in Baltimore a couple years ago, but I quickly became fascinated with this weird grape.
Why weird? Well, if you have to ask, then you have never tried a concord grape. They do have that INTENSE grape flavor, just like drinking a grape soda…but when you get past the flavorful skin, there is a “jelly ball” as I like to call it, waiting inside, with the consistency of a soft gummy bear or a tapioca ball one might find in those bubble teas. Of course there are also a couple hard seeds in the middle of that jelly ball too. But it is for all these reasons that I love concord grapes. I admit, I have a thing for weird fruits and veggies. I go to the store seeking out these new items and think of it as an adventure. The concord grape is the one item my husband and I still talk about and look forward to trying each fall as it pops up. Therefore, you can imagine my delight when I found some in my organic grocery store this morning!
The reason I bring all of this up is that when you do a cleanse like mine, or you just do your best to avoid things like soda, it helps if you have something healthier to replace it. Enter the concord grape. An amazing whole food, with an incredible dark color showing us it’s chock full of anti-oxidants and other great nutrients…and did I mention the flavor is intense? Um, yeah. I can’t even eat more than 20 of them at a time or so because it’s so intense. Plus you kind of have to work at it to eat them…so a low calorie way to force yourself to slow down while eating!
If you come across these beauties, grab them. It might run around $4.99 a box like mine did, but they last quite a while and they’re worth the adventure! Stay curious when it comes to your food…a recent study showed that people who are curious live longer…so combine that with the rainbow of healthy foods and you’re sure to live SUPER long and have some fun along the way!
Curious like a cat,
Jen
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