Dried and seedless, these plump, sweet-tart raisins come from the grape capital of India. Have a few every morning to improve skin health and digestion, stem acidity and boost iron and minerals. Vaaleli kaali drakshe fried in ghee are a wonderful topping for pulao, korma, ladoo and kheer. We like them steeped in tipple overnight to make a batch of rum and raisin ice cream.
Provenance
Grape culture in India dates to 1300 AD with the arrival of Afghan and Persian invaders. Mughal emperors Akbar, Jehangir and Aurangzeb patronized the industry, and it was Mohammed Bin Tughlaq’s decision in 1327 to move the Indian sub-continent’s capital from Delhi to Daulatabad in Maharashtra that sowed the seeds of viticulture in the Deccan, later generously backed by the Peshwas of Pune in the 1700s. Maharashtra accounts for over half of India’s grape cultivation, and Nashik’s hot and dry climate is ideal for its growth.
About The Seller
Like Aazol, Farm Dora Foods is a lockdown baby. When the grape growers of Nashik stared in the face of losses during the Coronavirus pandemic and exports reported a 25% drop, they turned to ingenuity. Drying the sought-after Black Jumbo Seedless and Nanasaheb Purple varieties, they made top-quality raisins. The homemaker team of Charushila Hitendra Badgujar and Lata Ramesh Wagh purchased a small batch and after minimal processing (washing, sorting, grading), distributed it across neighbourhood grocery stores. The out-of-home startup has managed to offer economic assistance to local growers and jobs to several women.
