Types, Cultivation Areas, Harvest Season, Packaging, and Prices in Iran
Grapes raisins, a delicious and nutritious product of Iran, are prepared by drying grapes. Raisins have numerous health benefits for the body, brain, heart, eyes, skin, and hair. Additionally, they find applications in cooking, pastry, making jams, fruit juices, and tea. In the following, we’ll introduce the types, cultivation regions, harvest season, packaging, and prices of raisins in Iran.
Types of Raisins:
In general, six common types of raisins can be identified in Iran:
- Golden Raisins (Sultana): Made from sweet white grapes, these raisins have a golden or yellow color and are dried using sulfur dioxide gas. They have a sweet and mild taste, making them suitable for culinary and pastry applications.
- Sultani Raisins (Dark/Light): Prepared from large green grapes, these raisins have a green or brown color. They are dried using boiling water and sunlight or machine drying. With a sweet and tangy flavor, they are used in making jams, fruit juices, and tea.
- Malayer Raisins: Made from small red grapes, these raisins have a red or black color. Similar to Sultani raisins, they are dried using boiling water and sunlight or machine drying. They have a sweet and bitter taste, suitable for various culinary purposes.
- Kashmiri Golden Raisins: Prepared from large white grapes, these raisins have a yellow or golden color. Dried using sulfur dioxide gas, they have a sweet and mild flavor, making them ideal for culinary and pastry applications.
- Green Raisins: Made from green and sour grapes, these raisins have a green color. Dried using boiling water and sunlight or machine drying, they have a tangy taste and are used in making jams, fruit juices, and tea.
- Sun-Dried Raisins: Prepared from various grape varieties, these raisins have a variable color range from green to black. Dried without any additives, they have a variable flavor from sweet to tangy and come in different sizes. They are used in jams, fruit juices, and tea.
Cultivation Areas:
Grapes are a perennial vine that thrives in warm and humid regions. According to statistics, Iran ranks fifth globally in grape production. Most grapes in Iran are cultivated in provinces such as Fars, Qazvin, Zanjan, Khorasan Razavi, South Khorasan, North Khorasan, Kerman, Isfahan, Yazd, and East Azerbaijan. Some famous cities in these provinces involved in grape and raisin production include Marvdasht, Takestan, Zanjan, Khodabandeh, Khorramdarreh, Qaen, Birjand, Tabas, Ferdows, Gonabad, Torbat Jam, Torbat Heydarieh, Mashhad, Neyshabur, Sabzevar, Bojnourd, Bafq, Isfahan, Yazd, and Tabriz.
Prices of Raisins in Iran:
The price of raisins in Iran is highly variable and depends on the type and quality of raisins, the cultivation region, harvest season, packaging, market demand, and other factors. Generally, higher-quality raisins and specific types like golden raisins have higher prices.
Please note that these prices are subject to change based on market dynamics and other factors.
Packaging of Iranian Raisins:
The type and quantity of packaging for raisin exports depend on the type of raisin. Generally, raisins are packaged in various sizes, ranging from 1 gram to 5 kilograms. Different packaging options include:
- Plastic Bags: Simple and affordable, suitable for lower-quality raisins.
- Cardboard Boxes: Strong and durable, ideal for higher-quality raisins. Preserves the taste and color of raisins, suitable for transportation and storage.
- Wooden, Metal, or Plastic Boxes: Very sturdy and resistant, suitable for premium-quality raisins. Preserves the taste and color of raisins, aesthetically pleasing, and suitable for transportation and storage.
- Glass or Plastic Bottles: Lightweight and efficient, suitable for medium-quality raisins. Preserves the taste and color of raisins, aesthetically pleasing, and suitable for transportation and storage.
Additionally, vacuum packaging can be used to preserve the quality and taste of raisins.
