The principal and most valued class of raisins are the Muscatels or
Muscats. They all derive their name from the Muscatel or Muscat grape,
from which these raisins are made. As to the origin of the name Muscat,
opinions differ. The most popular one is that the grape got its name
from the supposed musky flavor peculiar to this variety of grape. It is,
however, far more likely that the name is a very ancient one, and
derived from the Latin word _Musca_, meaning a fly,--these fine grapes
when drying being especially attractive to flies. The Romans called this
grape, “Uva Apiaria,” meaning bee grapes, or grapes beloved by bees,
from the fact that the bees are especially attracted to these grapes
when they are being dried. The Muscat or Muscatel would then not
originally designate a certain variety of grapes, but grapes used for
drying generally. In the course of time the name was transferred to or
especially given to the _best_ grape for drying purposes,--the Muscatel
of our own times.