Mercedes Grapes
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Mercedes grapes grow in large, moderately loose, conical bunches that range from 1 to 3 kilograms in weight and can extend over 40 centimeters in length. The bunches are comprised of branching, fibrous, and tough green stems that turn brown with age and large, elongated, oval fruits. Each grape has blunt, curved ends and averages 4 to 5 centimeters in length, 3 to 3.5 centimeters in diameter, and 14 to 20 grams in weight. The fruit’s skin is thin, smooth, taut, and glossy, unnoticeable when consumed. Despite the grape’s thin skin, the skin is strong and elastic, allowing the fruits to be handled without excessive damage. The dark purple, almost black skin is also covered in a grey-blue waxy coating. This coating is natural and easily wiped away. Underneath the surface, the translucent, green-purple flesh is dense, soft, tender, and aqueous with a crisp, succulent, and sometimes snappy consistency. The flesh also encases a few brown seeds. Mercedes grapes are edible once ripe and have a sweet, subtly tart, fruity taste with plum-like nuances. The variety is also said to have a faint nutmeg undertone and a lingering, muscat-sweet, fruity, and floral aftertaste.
Seasons/Availability
Mercedes grapes are harvested in the late summer through fall, mainly between mid-August through September. The variety can sometimes last up to four months in professional storage conditions.
Current Facts
Mercedes grapes, botanically classified as Vitis vinifera, are a Central Asian variety belonging to the Vitaceae family. The hybrid cultivar is a mid-season grape that was commercially bred in Tajikistan as an improved table grape. Mercedes is a commercial name used for the variety in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The grapes are also known by several other names throughout Central Asia, including Tajik in Tajikistan and Hadji Murat in Russia. Growers favor Mercedes grapes for their high yields, fast-growing nature, extended storage properties, and ability to be transported without damage. The vines typically bear fruit after 2 to 3 years, and the bunches ripen in 115 to 135 days each season. Mercedes grapes are cultivated for domestic sales and export, and the variety is primarily consumed fresh, savored for its large size, juicy flesh, and sweet-tart taste. When in season, Mercedes grapes are a specialty table grape and are incorporated into a wide array of sweet and savory culinary preparations.
Nutritional Value
Mercedes grapes have not been extensively studied for their nutritional properties. Grapes, in general, are a source of fiber to regulate the digestive tract, as well as vitamins A, C, K, and E. Vitamin A helps maintain daily organ functions, while vitamin C strengthens the immune system. Vitamin K assists the body in producing proteins to help the blood clot faster for wound healing, and vitamin E guards the cells against the damage caused by free radicals. Grapes also provide minerals, including potassium, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, and manganese. Potassium balances fluid levels within the body, magnesium controls nerve functions, phosphorus makes proteins for cellular repair, and manganese helps to build connective tissues. The dark coloring of Mercedes grapes indicates the presence of antioxidants, including resveratrol, which have anti-inflammatory properties. In Central Asia, grapes are sometimes cooked into syrups and vinegar as a remedy in natural medicines.
Applications
Mercedes grapes have a sweet, subtly tart, and fruity flavor suited for fresh and cooked preparations. The variety is primarily consumed out of hand and is savored as a sweet and refreshing snack. Mercedes grapes can also be tossed into salads, chopped into condiments, or skewered with other fruits and served as an appetizer. In Central Asia, Mercedes grapes are popularly frozen and eaten as a healthy dessert or blended into a natural sorbet. The frozen fruits can also be dropped into drinks as an ice substitute. Fresh, lightly chilled grapes are used as cake decorations or blended into dressings. Mercedes grapes are also processed into wine in Central Asia or pressed into juice. In addition to fresh preparations, Mercedes grapes are incorporated into rice pilafs, cooked into chutney, or poached in wine. The varietal can also be baked into cakes, tarts, and pies or simmered into jams, jellies, and other preserves. Mercedes grapes pair well with cheeses such as brie, goat, and mascarpone, balsamic vinegar, herbs including mint, rosemary, and basil, ginger, citrus, and walnuts. Whole, unwashed Mercedes grape bunches can be kept in the refrigerator’s crisper drawer for several weeks. In Central Asia, the bunches are layered into wooden boxes and stored in a cool, well-ventilated location. Professionally stored bunches are said to last for around four months. Mercedes grapes can also be dried into raisins for extended use.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Grapes are a seasonal ingredient incorporated into Tajikistan's famous, traditional dish known as fatir-maska. Much of the origins of fatir-maska are unknown due to its ancient heritage, but the rich, decadent recipe is considered one of the national dishes of southern Tajikistan. Fatir-maska is made from shredded or torn fatir, a sweet flatbread, and this bread is either cooked in butter or slathered in melted butter. The butter-coated bread is customarily served with melons or grapes as a refreshing, sweet addition. Fatir-maska is believed throughout Tajikistan to help prevent digestive problems, and the dish is typically served as breakfast or a celebratory dessert. The dish is not made in restaurants and is a hyper-local treat prepared for gatherings, celebratory meals, and holidays. Fatir-maska is primarily a summer dish, but it is also notably served during sada, an ancient Tajik holiday that marks the transition from winter to spring. Sada is held at the end of January, a time when fires are lit to symbolize the arrival of warmer weather. It also marks the beginning of the farming season. During sada, Tajik communities prepare traditional dishes, including fatir-maska, and the rustic dish is favored for its simplicity, rich taste, and low-cost ingredients.
Geography/History
Mercedes grapes are native to Tajikistan and were thought to have been developed in the mid-20th century. It is said that the variety was created at a VIR Central Asian Grape Selection station and was bred from a cross between Pobeda and Tyagobi grapes in 1944. After the initial cross, the new grape variety was evaluated and eventually selected for commercial release. It is unknown when Mercedes grapes arrived in markets, but the variety quickly rose in popularity as a table grape. Today, Mercedes grapes are commercially produced throughout Central Asia and in select regions of Eastern Europe. They are also grown in home gardens as a specialty cultivar. Mercedes grapes are sold in local markets in their growing regions and are also exported. In Central Asia, Mercedes grapes are grown in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Southern Russia and are exported to the Middle East. The variety is also cultivated in Ukraine, areas around the Black Sea, and parts of Moldova in Eastern Europe. The Mercedes grapes featured in the photograph above were sourced through a local market in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
