mávri stafída

Black Zante currants, which are actually tiny sweet seedless black grapes, are sun-dried and go in scones, buns and mince pies. Also known as μαύρη κορινθιακή σταφίδα (mávri kornthiakí stafída).

First mentioned in AD75 by Pliny the Elder, these black currants next appear in history in England in the 1300s as Reysyns de Corauntz, or raisins of Corinth (after the main port used by the Venetian merchants, although the island of Zákynthos (Zante) was the biggest producer).

Eventually 'Corinth' was corrupted into 'currant'. Greece still produces some 80% of the world's supply. The ones from Zákynthos are designated PDO.