Gangina is a traditional means of keeping grapes and
other fruits fresh for several months, by sealing them in air-tight
containers made of wet soil.
Grapes are tricky to keep fresh for long periods of time, even when
refrigeration is available, but apparently Afghans have long been using
an ancient method of keeping the soft fruits fresh for consumption in
the winter months, when fresh fruits are otherwise hard to come by.
Called gangina, this ingenious conservation technique involves sealing
healthy grapes in a saucer-like container made of two layers of wet
soil. The container is left in the sun to dry and then has to be kept in
a cool place, away from direct sunlight. If stored properly, gangina
containers can keep grapes picked in autumn fresh until next year’s
spring season.
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“We should remove the broken grapes first, then put them in gangina. If
we put the broken ones in gangina, it will spoil all other grapes,”
farmer Abdul Manan said, adding that it is imperative that only healthy
grapes be conserved this way, as a single spoiled grape can otherwise
ruin a whole batch.
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Gangina containers need to be air-tight and kept in a cool, dark place,
to keep the fruits inside fresh. In winter or in spring, when the demand
for fruits grows, and with it the price people are willing to pay,
farmers like Abdul Manan bring out their stock of gangina-kept grapes
and sell them for profit. Each container holds about a kilogram of
grapes.
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“We are keeping lots of grapes in Gangina and will sell it in coming
winter or spring,” grape farmer Askar told the Afghan Ministry of
Agriculture. “By this method we will get a good income.”
Speaking of ways to keep fruits fresh, did you know about this smart
sticker that can keep fruits from spoiling for up to 14 days?
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