With Ramzan beginning on Friday, citizens in the city observing fast are stocking up on dry fruits. The fast is usually broken with a handful of dates, raisins and nuts.
Several dry fruit shops stock imported specialities to cater to this demand. Mohammed Idrees Choudhury of Delicious Dry Fruits in Russell Market said 64 varieties of dates and other varieties of dry fruits from across the world are now available. Up for grabs are dates from Makkah, Madina, Iran, Iraq, Jordan and South Africa; figs from Turkey and Iran; almonds from Iran; long raisins from Afghanistan; and black raisins from Iraq.
Special varieties of dates such as Medjoul King that is sugar-free, Ajwa, Kalmi, Sukhri, Amber and Safawi are most sought-after during Ramzan. Also available are the stuffed Ajwa dates. These dates are seeded and stuffed with mixed nuts, saffron, cardamom and honey.
Mr. Choudhury said a discount mela would be held till June 28 at Russell Market, where dates would be sold at a 20 per cent discount and other dry fruits at 15 per cent discount.
