Kashmir is a paradise of its kind and is widely known for its immense beauty and cultural diversity. It is also home to some fantastic delicacies, including must-buy dry fruits in Kashmir, which are widely popular due to their exquisite flavour, nutritional value, and delightful taste. Kashmiri dry fruits are a delicious treat to enjoy on their own and are used in various dishes, such as traditional rice puddings, bread, and desserts. These flavorful treats vary from region to region across the valley.
From walnuts, almonds, apples, apricots, and cherries to dates and figs, you’ll find some exotic delights within each variety. When touring the valley of Kashmir, you will get to visit several local vendors who specialize in selling fresh, dry fruits grown locally by farmers.
1. Walnuts
Vitamin-rich, Kashmiri walnuts are beautifully stuffed in a basket. Image: Kukclean
Kashmir is famous for its exotic range of dry fruit. One among them is Walnuts– a dry fruit full of health-benefiting properties grown in the pristine terrains of Kashmir. Kashmir dry fruit is prized for its excellent taste and high nutritional value; it contains Vitamins(A, E & B complex).
Minerals like potassium, zinc, phosphorous, and essential fatty acids are vital in providing healthy glowing skin. The crunchy exterior houses a delicious kernel inside that can be used whole or ground into powder to enhance the flavour of dishes they are incorporated into.
2. Almonds
The sweet smell of Kashmir Almonds has always attracted tourists from around the world to Kashmir. Laden with many vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory properties, Almonds are used as dry fruits and enhance stews and meat curries.
The valley provides perfect conditions for the supply chain, making it a vast source of fresh almonds in many parts of India. Recently, travellers have looked up to Kashmir for age-old techniques in almond production.
3. Cashews
Kashmir is home to many exotic dry fruits, including the prized Cashew. The mild climate and moisture in Kashmir facilitate the growth of cashews from crisp and crunchy nuts to the soft sweetest. Kashmiri Cashews are full of essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals, adding flavour, texture, nutrition, and colour to any dessert or main course dish.
Kashmiri people highly value the nutritional benefits of Cashew and often use them in cooking savoury dishes, salads, or just as snacks. Shopping for high-quality cashews during a Kashmir visit is a must-have experience for food lovers.
4. Pistachios
Kashmir is known for its unique and delicious taste of dry fruits, mainly pistachio. The aroma of freshly plucked Pistachios has tempted every explorer to explore the orchards in Kashmir. Filled with a distinct flavour and a crunchy texture, this village dry fruit of Kashmir can make any dish special.
Tourists visit specific farms in the valley to buy fresh produce directly from the cultivators. Tourists can’t just explore this valley’s beauty but also try mouth-waterings cooked with Kashmir’s famous Pistachios.
5. Raisins
Kashmir has been a tourist paradise due to its pleasant climate, beautiful landscapes, unique culture, and dry fruit market. It is famous among other states in India, mainly because of Raisin Dry Fruit. They are sun-dried black grapes cultivated locally in Kashmir, the unique flavour of which is second to none.
Raisins have high nutritional value and provide abundant vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and dietary fibre. They help reduce cholesterol levels in the blood and aid in reducing weight gain as well. Therefore, raisins are gradually becoming a household essential nowadays days.
6. Apricots
Kashmiri apricots are a unique dried fruit found in the Kashmir region of India that’s most famous worldwide. They have long been a staple ingredient in Arabic and Middle Eastern cultures, where they’re served as dessert or as part of celebratory meals. The apricot is also used as an oil-rich hair treatment in many countries, while its seeds offer a rich source of dietary fibre and vitamins.
A trip to Kashmir would not be complete without trying these unique fruits, which have become one of the most sought-after ingredients among foodies and local chefs. The sweet-tasting flesh, along with the texture and colour, makes this dried fruit indeed something special.
7. Dates
Kashmir is known for its delicious and succulent dates, making this a must-buy item when visiting the area. Try buying the iconic ‘Diwani Dates’, which have an elongated shape and deep red colour. You can also buy a mix of fresh, juicy dates from locals or nearby shops – but always check the quality and shelf life before purchase.
Another option is to buy delicious dry dates in various sizes and flavours. With so much variety available, it’s easy to fit your dietary requirements while discovering the unique taste of local Kashmiri produce. So if you’re looking for delicious treats while travelling to Kashmir, don’t forget to grab some tasty dates.
8. Chestnuts
Kashmiri chestnuts have a fascinating history as they have been exported to other parts of the world since ancient times. A distinct Kashmiri variety of chestnut is highly prized for its taste and texture. This sweet, smoky nut pairs exceptionally well with creamy dishes like omelettes and soups.
Visiting the Deodar forests of Jammu & Kashmir is a great way to learn more about cultivating and drying these nuts. You can also witness how local families employ traditional methods like boiling, steaming, or air-drying to make chestnuts. Tourists can even join in harvesting experiments that locals still practice today.
9. Dried Berries
Kashmir is known for its stunning and eye-catching landscapes and sights. But, what most people don’t know is that the region also provides different sorts of food on the table. One such famous item include dried cranberries. The dried berries in Kashmir are a delicacy, with locals using them to make traditional meals and snacks.
Tourists who come to visit can explore the local delicacies by trying these wonderful dried berries—experience for yourself by indulging in these tasty treats made from Kashmir’s freshest and finest produce.
10. Dried Apples
One of the most popular attractions in Kashmir is dried apples. Kashmir’s mild climate and dry air make an ideal environment to dry apples. The sun-kissed fruits shrink to perfectly juicy bites of vibrant tart, sweet flavours that can last months.
Tourists can visit the valleys where they will find Kashmir wholesale dry fruit market, where these dried apples are available on a large scale, offering a variety of flavours from common red Fuji and Gala to rare types like Golden Delicious or Queen. Dried apples of Kashmir thus bring together a mix of culture, nature, and flavour that appeals to taste buds as much as it does to eyes.
11. Fig. Anjeer
Kashmir has a long history of traditional dry fruit production. Dried figs from Kashmir are particularly popular worldwide, both as a snack and as an ingredient in many regional dishes. The succulent fruits have a unique sweet-tart flavour and become sweeter when dried.
A visit to one of the fig orchards in Kashmir will delight any explorer, with its wooded hillsides adorned by fragrant blooming vines framing the tree-lined paths. Locals often gather in these peaceful settings for rest and to sample fresh produce with cups of piping hot Nun chai.
12. Dried Pear
Kashmir’s dried pears have been an item of export for centuries. These pears are harvested in Kashmir’s higher-altitude meadows, including villages around Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Yusmarg. The process of drying these pears is enjoyable, with a procedure that involves precision and love.
They are peeled and cut into wedges, which are spread on terraces to dry in Sun’s heat. This enhances their taste, texture, and colour immensely. The sweet-sour taste and the aroma of the dried pear are unique, making it one of the most sought-after treats by tourists visiting Kashmir.
13. Saffron
Kashmir’s dried pears have been an item of export for centuries. These pears are harvested in Kashmir’s higher-altitude meadows, including villages around Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Yusmarg. The process of drying these pears is enjoyable, with a procedure that involves precision and love.
They are peeled and cut into wedges, which are spread on terraces to dry in the Sun’s heat. This enhances their taste, texture, and colour immensely. The sweet-sour taste and the aroma of the dried pear are unique, making it one of the most sought-after treats by tourists visiting Kashmir.
14. Hazelnut/Pahadi Badaam
Hazel nuts/Pahadai badam from Kashmir is one of the most sought-after delicacies among tourists. The nut, which grows in abundance throughout Kashmir, is a delightfully creamy and fatty nut known for its high nutritional content, including magnesium, calcium, and potassium.
It can be had in various forms, such as roasted or salted. The nut also has many uses in traditional sweet dishes like Halwa and the famous Kesar roll of Kashmir. Besides boasting tremendous culinary potential, the hazelnut plantations of the valley are on full display during autumn months and become hotspots of activity during harvesting season.
15. Kishmish
Yellow raisins are made from tasty dried Kashmiri grapes. Image: Instagram
Kishmish, the succulent and juicy homegrown dried fruit, is one of the famous delicacies from Kashmir. Dried grapes, or Kishmish are widely used in local cuisine and for preparing traditional dishes. Varieties like Sharbati, Parlouar, and Gulabi add unique flavour to recipes like salty Zarda, sweet Haleem, Muji Chetin, and many other delicious treats.
Visitors to Kashmir should try Kishmish to experience the local flavours of this beautiful destination. People can also buy packaged kishmish from dry fruit shops in Kashmir as a souvenir to take home with them.
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