Why Raisins Keep Dividing Brazil’s Christmas Table

Overview

• Nutrition coverage published on Dec. 25 underscores raisins’ high energy density and advises people with diabetes to cap intake at about one tablespoon and to eat them alongside other foods.
• General guidance recommends roughly 30 g per portion, with 10–20 g per serving sufficient in main dishes to add flavor without driving up calories.
• Food historians link their holiday use to a lineage running from ancient Middle Eastern cooking through Mediterranean and Portuguese traditions into Brazilian Christmas recipes.
• Chefs point to the contrast in taste and the chewy texture as key reasons some reject raisins in rice, farofa or salpicão, even as others enjoy the combination.
• Industry notes highlight major producers such as Turkey, Chile and the United States, where drying, selection and export processes follow established quality standards.