Grapeseed Products
Grapeseed Oil is a relatively new discovery of the 20th century and Indigo Herbs has obtained an excellent quality oil for you to enjoy. Our Grapseed Oil can be used directly on the skin or used as a carrier for essential oils. Because of the light quality of this oil it is more easily absorbed and gives great and lasting elasticity to the skin.
The history of the ‘Vitis’ or grapevine is a fascinating journey into the past and the migration of the vine through the world. As can be seen from the Bible, the grape has been given an almost mythological status because it is the main constituent to make wine. It is thought that the cultivation of the grape vine started in the Neolithic period around 6,500 BC and was made popular by the Babylonian and Egyptian empires. It is thought that because of the grapes religious connotations and its use by the Romans and Greeks it could be the most historically important fruit in the world. Both Greek and Roman cultures used wine, grapes and the vine for medicines and religious observances. The Romans were responsible for the spread of the grape vine through Europe which was strengthened by the emergence of Christianity. The strong sanctity given to consecrated wine as the blood of Jesus Christ meant that wine was cultivated in nearly every European country with a Mediterranean coast line.
The first historical reference to the production of grape seed oil appears in 1569 when the Emperor Maximillian II granted a musician the privilege of making grape seed oil for the preservation of his instruments.
It is thought that the before the last ice age there may have been more than one variety of grape but only Vitis vinifera survived. The grape vine has since been cultivated in many different countries giving rise to several distinct types. Because the species in Asia are poorly defined it is estimated that there could be between 40 to 60 different varieties in the world today. The grape vine, as the name suggests, is able to support itself via tendrils and is a fast growing climber. The stalks grow woody with age and flowers tend to be hermaphrodite guaranteeing pollination and fruiting. Each small flower then turns into a bulbous, shiny fruit to encourage birds to eat them and spread the seed. Leaves are ‘club’ shaped and quite fleshy.