Manucca raisins, organic, Fairtrade, sun-dried and unoiled

Our extra-large Fairtrade organic Manucca raisins, containing 2 to 3 crunchy seeds, come from a local variety native to the Samarkand region of Uzbekistan. After harvesting, the grapes are picked by hand and dried in the sun. They have a sweet, full-bodied aroma. The small edible seeds offer a surprising crunch.​

Ideal as a snack between meals, in muesli or as a natural sweetener in baking. Can also be used in oriental dishes - versatile and flavourful.

The Manucca grapes grow around Samarkand and are harvested by hand by small Uzbek farming families. It is a local variety that is only native to Uzbekistan. Our partner Silk Road Organik Foods works with two small farmers' cooperatives that support around 1000 families along the old Silk Road. This close cooperation results in high-quality products, fair working conditions and sustainable development opportunities for local people. ​

Grapes are an important agricultural product in the region. They are cultivated using a traditional method in which the vines grow on the ground - protecting both the fruit and the soil from the intense sunlight. The cultivation system of pits and dams enables the efficient utilisation of rain and melt water, which is crucial in a water-scarce country like Uzbekistan. Thanks to the intense sunshine, the grapes achieve a particularly high sugar content and therefore higher Oechsle levels than European varieties - ideal conditions for flavoursome raisins.

After harvesting, drying takes place in the sun. Silk Road Organik Foods carries out all the processing near the city of Samarkand. The processing process combines manual care with modern technology. Up to 80 employees - mainly women - sort the fruit by hand, check it for impurities and remove small stones.

A central element of production is a solar thermal system that is unique in Uzbekistan. It produces the warm air required for drying - largely energy self-sufficient and independent of the unstable electricity grid. The system is supplemented by a photovoltaic system that covers the plant's electricity requirements. This form of energy and power generation reduces operating costs in the long term, increases ecological sustainability and serves as a model project for climate-friendly food processing in Central Asia.

Our organic Fairtrade Manucca raisins are produced from A to Z in Uzbekistan - directly in the country of origin of the raw materials. Pakka deliberately favours direct trade without middlemen. In addition to paying the Fairtrade premium, the harvests of the small farmers are pre-financed. This strengthens the entire local value chain and ensures fair incomes, high-quality products and sustainable local economic growth. ​

In addition to the Fairtrade premium, 5 centimes of every product sold goes to the Pakka Foundation to support projects in the countries of origin. More info: www.pakkafoundation.org

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