Ziba Dried Apricot Kernels from Afghanistan
An amazing old-fashioned food from the women-focused firm in Kabul
While writing about apricots as a metaphor for good things to come, I was reminded to pick up some of these dried apricot kernels from Afghanistan. To my sense of things, these uncommon little toasted and salted sweet-apricot treats are one of the tastiest additions to our collective Zingerman’s pantry to show up in ages.
As I’ve mentioned before, apricots are native to China. Afghanistan lies, of course, to the west, sandwiched between Iran and the border with China, so apricot trees would have likely been grown there for many thousands of years. We know Afghanistan today mostly, unfortunately, because it’s been ravaged by war for so many decades, but we also know that more positive futures are possible. The Irish theologian John O’Donohue wrote that “all the contemporary crises can be reduced to a crisis about the nature of beauty.” In fact, the name of the company making them available, Ziba, means “beautiful” in Dari (the Afghan dialect of Persian).
Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, Ziba’s founders began with the express purpose of helping women in Afghanistan to make a sustainable living. As the Ziba folks say, “Our mission is simple: to introduce people to the splendors of one of the world’s most inaccessible countries while actively working to improve the lives of its women and rural farmers.” In practice, their goal of supporting “the development of women in business so they can gain independence” is already making a big difference in the lives of many women. The workforce is primarily women in the Kabul factory. This isn’t about charity—it’s about independence, good work, care. And beauty.
I will say that if you look up apricot kernels, you’ll find that bitter apricot kernels can have a high degree of toxicity. These, though, are sweet apricot kernels, which have a different chemical makeup, making them safe for you and me to eat. While they’re not certified organic, they essentially are in practice since these small-scale Afghan farmers don’t use pesticides.
The Ziba Apricot Kernels are nutty, almondy, slightly smoky, slightly sweet, a beautiful bit of bitter. (FWIW, apricot pits like this are the key “secret” flavor that makes Italian Amaretti cookies what they are.) The dusting of Afghan salt makes them as irresistible as a great American peanut, but with a flavor all their own. Because they aren’t nuts—they’re the pits of sweet Afghan apricots—people with nut allergies can eat them. They’re super versatile—the little packets make them perfect airplane food. You can send them with your loved one (or yourself) to school or work. They’re a superb addition to salads. They’d be great in that Couscous and Apricot dish I wrote about last week, rather than almonds. Add ’em to granola, trail mix, or oatmeal. A lovely little addition to the wide mix of artisan foods that make up the Zingerman’s Community!
P.S. The Deli doesn’t have the apricot kernels on their own, but they do have bags of Ziba’s terrific trail mix—apricot kernels along with the amazing Afghan Gurbandi almonds, Kishmish raisins, wild pistachios, and dried mulberries.
