AHAR Booklet-230215
- 1. A Taste of Afghan Hospitality Afghanistan Dried Fruit, Nuts, and Saffron Directory Aahar International Food and Hospitality Fair March 10-14, 2015 Hall Number 18 - FIFI - 18U / 07 Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India
- 3. A Taste of Afghan Hospitality In Afghanistan, we pride ourselves on our hospitality. A guest in an Afghan home can expect to be treated to a lavish display of the countrys dried fruit and assorted nuts and multiple cups of steaming tea. We know our guests deserve the very best, and we can offer that thanks to Afghanistans fertile land and temperate climate. About 60 percent of the worlds dried fruit and nuts came from Afghanistan before the 1980s. The country is home to crunchy almonds, sweet raisins, plump figs, tasty pistachios, delectable dried apricots, and high-grade saffron. Buyers from Pakistan, India, and the United Arab Emirates are already meeting high consumer demand in their countries with Afghanistans traditional delights. The rest of the world is following suit and reawakening to the vast potential in our quality dried fruit, nuts, and saffron. But dont take our word for it. Please be our guest and enjoy a taste of Afghan hospitality for yourself. 1
- 4. Saffron Afghanistan produces about 0.6 percent of the worlds saffron, but production has the potential to grow exponentially. In December 2012, Afghanistans saffron was awarded first place for quality among 16 countries at the International Saffron Exhibition held in France. The saffron produced in Afghani- stan, according to the officials, was the best, surpassing the others with its perfume, color, and taste. 2
- 5. Almonds Afghanistan is home to a wide variety of almonds, and production reached 62,000 metric tons in 2012. The countrys almonds belong to two core classes: soft-shell al- monds and hard- and medium-shell almonds. Both classes are subdivided in several types, and then multiple varieties. For instance, the popular type called Sattarbai belongs to the soft-shell class. There are also varieties of Sattarbai, such as Sattarbai Sufi, Sattarbai Guldar, and Sattarbai Mamakhail. 3
- 6. Raisins Afghanistans raisins are born of what many regard as the best tasting grapes in the world. A high brix level gives Afghanistans grapes and subsequently its raisins their distinctive sweetness. Afghan farmers typically dry 20 to 25 percent of their grape crops, and raisins historically have proved a major export for the country. 4
- 7. Figs Afghanistans traditional string of plump figs offers a tasty, filling, and nutrition-packed snack for people on the go. Nearly all fig pro- duction in Afghanistan occurs in Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan. Much of the production is exported to India, Pakistan, and Dubai. 5
- 8. Dried Apricots Afghanistans apricots rank among the best-tasting apricots due to their distinc- tive sweetness. Afghanistans Amiri apricot, for example, is distinguished from other varieties by its sweetness, with a brix level of 14-22. The highest brix level of apricots grown outside of Afghanistan is only up to 14. Afghanistans dried apricots come whole or sliced. 6
- 9. Pistachios Afghanistan is home to about four species of pistachios, which are recognized for their col- or and intense flavor. Pistachios grow across a wide swath of northern Afghanistan and are a big agricultural export of the country with many small villages depending on pistachio forests for their livelihoods. 7
- 11. AMIN AYAZI CO. LTD. Mr. Noorideen +93 700 301 386 +93 786 068 048 Mohammad Afzal Khan Market District 9, Kandahar, Afghanistan Amin Ayazi Co. Ltd., established in 2001, works in packing, processing, and exporting fresh fruit and dried fruit and nuts, including almonds, walnuts, apricots, pistachios, raisins, and mung beans, to countries such as Paki- stan, Iran, United Arab Emirates, England, and India. The company has 130 staff. ARIANA SAFFRON CO. LTD. Mr. Basher Ahamad +93 796 313 017 basherahmadrashidi@yahoo.com info@arianasaffron.com Ariana Saffron Co. Ltd., established in 2011, works in cultivation, harvesting, processing, packing, and sales of saffron across Afghani- stan and international markets. The compa- ny has sub-branches in Kabul and exports organic Afghan saffron to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, France, China, and America. Ariana Saffron Co. Ltd. is equipped with modern agricultural machinery and irrigation systems and invests in agricultural innovations in the saffron industry. GHARZAI SAFFRON LTD. Mr. Omar Farooq Gharzai +93 799 290 229 +93 785 501 602 info@gharzaisaffron.com Mukhaberat, 1st Street Herat, Afghanistan Gharzai Saffron was established in 2011 to support local saffron farmers in culti- vating, processing, drying, packaging, and exporting saffron. The Herat-based company has branches in Kabul and exports organic Afghan saffron to the United Arab Emirates, France, Belgium, and other countries. 9
- 12. KARIM SUDAIS CO. LTD. Mr. Aminullah +93 700 324 507 +93 700 324 509 Mohammad Afzal Khan Market, District 9 Kandahar, Afghanistan Karim Sudais Co. Ltd., established in 2009, works in packing, processing, and exporting fresh fruit and dried fruit and nuts such as almonds, walnuts, apricots, pistachios, raisins, and mung beans. The company exports to countries such as Pakistan, Iran, United Arab Emirates, and India. The company employs 200 staff. MAHER HAMZA CO. LTD. Mr. Khalil Rahman +93 700 362 656 +93 700 300 606 Old Custom Main Road, Street 75 Kandahar, Afghanistan Maher Hamza Co. Ltd., established in 2009, works in packing, processing, and exporting fresh fruit and dried fruit and nuts, including almonds, walnuts, apricots, pistachios, raisins, and mung beans, to Pakistan, Iran, United Arab Emirates, and India. The company em- ploys 200 people. HERAY FAROOQI CO. LTD. Mr. Sayed Seliman +93 784 221 882 farooqicarpets@yahoo.com Mandavi Kabul, Afghanistan Heray Farooqi Co. Ltd., established in 2010, works in packing, processing, and exporting fresh fruit as well as dried fruit and nuts, including almonds, walnuts, apricots, pista- chios, raisins, and mung beans to countries such as Pakistan, Iran, United Arab Emirates, and India. The company employs 60 people. 10
- 13. MELAD JEHOON SADAT CO. LTD. Mr. Habibullah +93 700 882 222 Habib_habibzada@hotmail.com Mandawee Kabul, Afghanistan Melad Jehoon Sadat Co. Ltd. has worked in the import and export of dried fruit and nuts since 2009. The company exports saffron and dried fruit and nuts such as raisins, peas, and almonds, to Canada, Australia, Pakistan, Unit- ed Arab Emirates, and India. The company employs more than 60 staff. MUJTABA SAJAD RAFFET LTD. Mr. Ghulam Murtaza Reffet +93 789 312 436 +93 744 473 245 murtazarefat0700@gmail.com Faizmuhad Muhammad Naseri Market Kabul, Afghanistan Mujtaba Sajad Raffet Ltd. established in 2005, works in packing, processing and exporting dried fruit and nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, apricots, pistachios, raisins, and mung beans, to countries such as China, Turkey, Pakistan, Iran, United Arab Emirates, and India. NAJEB AMIN CO. LTD. Mr. Noor Shah +93 700 308 086 +93 700 304 642 Mohammad Afzal Khan Market District 9 Kandahar, Afghanistan Najeb Amin Co. Ltd., established in 2005, works in packing, processing, and exporting fresh fruit and dried fruit and nuts includ- ing almonds, walnuts, apricots, pistachios, raisins, mung beans, and figs. The company exports to countries such as Pakistan, Iran, United Arab Emirates, and India. The compa- ny employs 150 staff. 11
- 14. NEGIN SANG COMMERCIAL CO. LTD. Haji Razaq Faiz +93 796 320 063 +93 783 519 553 Razaq_faiz@yahoo.com Wali Asr Plaza, 3rd District Kabul, Afghanistan Negin Sang Co., established in 2007, is a leading company in the export of fresh and dried fruit from Afghanistan to local and international markets. The company sorts, packages, processes, and exports fresh and dried fruit such as almonds, walnuts, apricots, and raisins. ZAMARAI RASOULI CO. LTD. Haji Javed Rasouli +93 799 303 160 +93 777 755 555 rasoly786@gmail.com www.rasolygroup.com.af Mandawi Baghaban Kucha, Drab Market Kabul, Afghanistan Zamarai Rasouli Co. Ltd. has 35 years of ex- perience in the field of natural and medicinal plants and dried fruit and nuts. The company exports to India, China, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Europe, America, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, and other Gulf countries. 12