Cotton candy grapes

What are they?

Cotton candy grapes are exactly what you imagine them to be – grapes that taste rather like candy floss. Despite a name and even a taste that’s suggestive of the artificial, these grapes aren’t genetically modified at all – their sweetness comes as a result of natural breeding, and trial-and-error cross-pollination between two grape species. What do they taste like?

Sweets in grape form. Which is no surprise, given that cotton candy grapes contain about 12 per cent more sugar than normal table grapes. And the taste really does live up to the name. Take a bite, close your eyes and you could be eating frothy clouds of spun sugar at the fairground.

This lingering sweetness is further accentuated by the distinct lack of tartness that often characterises white grapes, and the more discerning tasters among you may even be able to identify a hint of vanilla.

What can you do with them?

If you can resist gobbling these little balls of sweetness straight from the bag or box, it’s worth popping them in the freezer for a couple of hours so that they develop a frosty, sorbet-like texture.

You can also experiment with using the sweetness of the grapes as a foil to bolder, tangier ingredients. Add to a cheeseboard heaving with creamy, oozing Brie and crumbling aged blue cheese, and you’ll see what we mean.

You can also easily turn them into a fruit compote that has the potential to elevate your morning granola bowl for days to come, and they would also work well served with slow-braised meat. For something a bit different, try drizzling the grapes with olive oil, dousing with black pepper and roasting in the oven.