Fruits are a rich source of nutrients and fiber. Every fruit provides antioxidants that are health-boosting and can reduce the risk of various diseases. Some fruits have a similar appearance and are categorized under similar terms. Two such common fruit types are berries and grapes. Both types of fruits have distinct differences and features.
Berries vs Grapes
The main difference between berries and grapes is that berries are dried with the help of added sugar. On the other hand, grapes are extensively consumed as dry fruits as raisins without any added sugar. Berries have a higher content of minerals, proteins, and vitamins while grapes have a higher content of fats, carbs, and calories.
The plants bearing berries are termed baccate or bacciferous. The taste of berries depends upon the type and variety of berries. It is usually sweet, tart, or even sour. The shelf life of berries is comparatively lower because of the characteristic skin type.
While the plants bearing grapes are termed vines. The type of vine where grapes grow is usually woody and perennial type. Grapes have hundreds of varieties and most of them have a sweet taste. The shelf life of the fruit is higher and longer since the skin is crisp and firm.
Comparison Table Between Berries and Grapes
| Parameters of Comparison | Berries | Grapes |
| Growing pattern | Grow on bushes in either highbush or lowbush variety | Grow on vines in the form of clusters |
| Appearance | Globular in shape and is available in various colors depending upon the type of berry and usually has a crown at the top | Oblong or globular in shape and can be seedless or seeded depending upon the type of grape |
| Genus | Rubus | Vitis |
| Skin type | Berries have thicker skin | Grapes have a thinner skin |
| Juice content | Berries are comparatively fewer juicer | Grapes are more juicer |
What is Berries?
Berry is a type of edible fruit that is juicy, pulpy, rounded, small, and is brightly colored. The taste of berry can be sour, sweet, or even tart depending upon the kind of the fruit. The fruit does not contain any pit or stone in it. There are various types of berries available in the market like blueberries, strawberries, black currants raspberries, blackberries, white currants, and red currants.
In the terminology of botany, the term berry is referred to a fruit that has seeds and the production of the pulp is from the ovary of an individual flower. The fleshy part in the fruit is present throughout but not in the seeds. The development of berries is from an ovary that has one or more carpels. Berries had been an important food source even before the beginning of agriculture for mankind.
The consumption of berries is worldwide and they are used in various recipes like cakes, jams, pies, and other preserves. However not every berry is edible and can be poisonous too. Berries like pokeweed and deadly nightshade are examples of poisonous berries. Some berries are harmful in unripe conditions but turn edible after ripening like red mulberry, white mulberry, and elderberry.
Berries are grown commercial with the integration of practices like pest management and IPM (Integrated Pest Management). The fruit requires a temperature of 0°C to 10°C for the breakage of the dormancy period. The fruit has a negligible amount of calories and is a rich source of various minerals and vitamins.
What is Grapes?
Grape is a type of non-climacteric fruit which occurs on the deciduous woody vines. Grapes belong to the flowering plant of genus Vitis. The fruit is eaten fresh in the form of table grapes. Grapes are also utilized for making jelly, wine grape seed extract jam grape seed oil, vinegar, grape juice or can even be dried in the form of sultanas, raisins, and currants.
Grapes occur in clusters. The amount of energy from 100 grams of grapes is 288 kJ. grapes are a rich source of carbohydrates and sugars. The fruit contains around 18.1 gram and 15.8 grams of carbohydrate and sugars respectively in 100 grams of the fruit. It also contains vitamins like vitamin C, E, B1, B2, B3, B5, C, E, and K. It is also rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, manganese, zinc, phosphorous, and sodium.
The homeland of grapes is referred to as the Middle East. The cultivation of the fruit had begun about 6000 to 8000 years ago. The cultivation of grapes and wine production had begun simultaneously as the east was present naturally on the skin of the fruit. Archaeological pieces of evidence show that winemaking had started about 8000 years ago.
The most popular variety of grapes is Sultana or the Thompson seedless. The pH level found in grapes is 2.90 to 3.82. The thriving temperature of the fruit is around 31 to 33 °F and with 91 -95% humidity in the air. The temperature in the refrigerator can keep grapes fresh for a long time. From the total grape production, 71% is utilized for wine production, 27% is used as fresh fruit and the remaining is consumed as dried fruit.
Main Differences Between Berries and Grapes
- Berries do not have any stone or pit while some varieties of grapes may have an inedible hard pit.
- Berries contain a higher level of proteins while grapes contain lower levels of proteins in it.
- Berries are the richer source of minerals and vitamins while grapes are a comparatively lower source of minerals and vitamins.
- The water content in berries is comparatively lower while the water content in grapes is higher.
- Berries are not eaten in the form of dry fruits while grapes are eaten in the form of dry fruits.
Conclusion
Both berries and grapes have antioxidants that help in fighting free radicals. The nutrients present in both types of fruits help in minimizing chronic diseases. Both berries and grapes belong to different families and genera. The nutrient content in both types of fruits is different from each other. Both the fruits have originated during a different time frames. The consumption patterns and types are different for both berries and grapes. However, consumption depends on the preference of every user.
References
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0963996911003383
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12263-020-00675-z