Local farmers have reported a rich harvest of mulberries – ‘al toot’ in Arabic’ – this year, with many continuing to sell their wares at the Farmers’ Market and local fruit and vegetable bazaars
The kingdom is home to diverse varieties of the superfood, including the tart, red Bahraini mulberry, which is widely used to make juices or enjoyed as is. Other types inlcude Chinese, Thai and Kashmiri.
“The Thai variety is a good balance of sweet and sour and has a beautiful colour, and the greenish Kashmiri ones are more sugary,” Mohammed Abdullah, who owns a farm in Karranah, told GulfWeekly.
The 30-year-old, who grew up watching his father and grandfather on their family farm also grows other produce, including tomatoes and lettuce.
“We sell at the farmers’ markets that take place in Bahrain,” he said, adding that it has been a good harvest for mulberries this year.
“Even though I work a fulltime government job, farming is close to my heart and I dedicate my spare time to it.”
Many Bahrainis who were raised on family farms have continued to pursue their love for growing things into adulthood.
Among
them is Mohsen Al-Bouri, who owns a farm in Buri. He grows a variety of
mulberries and noted that he has always enjoyed a good harvest.
Additionally, the 29-year-old has been collaborating with businesses
that make achar (‘pickle’) and juices, and highlighted that ice creams
and khubz al rigag – an Arabic crepe often enjoyed with sweet or savoury
fillings – are also popular mulberry flavoured snacks.
Speaking
about his journey for the last 13 years, he added that he was one of the
first farmers to participate in Mara’ee (Bahrain International
Exhibition for Agricultural and Animal Production) and has since
encouraged fellow farmers to join the event.
Bahrain is home to many initiatives that support local farmers. Among them is the Farmers’ Market in Hoorat A’ali.
“These programmes give us more exposure and subsequently more customers,” he noted.
Ebrahim Sabt from Karranah has been selling his wares at the market since its inception in 2018.
“We get a lot of patrons especially on weekends and holidays” added the sexagenarian.
While mulberries can be eaten fresh, they are often dried or used in various recipes such as jams, pies and desserts.
Some Bahrain-based chefs, home cooks and food enthusiasts are getting creative with the superfood, bringing alive its rich colours and flavours in every bite.
Irish homemaker and blogger Moya Mc Guigan aka Food and Tools is excited to substitue regular berries with these juicy jewels in her easy-to-make mixed berry mousse (available on foodandtools.wordpress.com).
“Fruit and dairy products make a delicious combination and chilled desserts using these ingredients can easily be assembled for quick summer entertaining,” said the mother-of-two, who has called the island home for over 40 years.
Catering to the local palate, a homegrown ice cream palour, popular for
its unique flavours many of which incorporate Bahraini ingredients,
collaborated with Bahrain chef Lulwa Sowaileh to release ‘a mulberry,
vanilla and rose situation’ made from native Bahraini mulberries.
The
mulberry, vanilla and rose syrup is from the chef’s line of handcrafted
artisanal preserves and was folded into a classic vanilla gelato - yum!
Sayed
Maitham from Sitra, who has been making traditional halwa (sweet) for
many years sold 1,000 boxes of his mulberry flavoured halwa in under two
weeks.
“Mine is a fusion recipe of Omani and Bahraini styles,” he
remarked, saying that he then adds his own touch to the dish, which
makes it a favourite among his patrons.
Baking enthusiast Mubina
Maqbool, whose creations have been an island favourite for almost two
decades, has never used the fruit in her culinary escapades.
However,
she feels they will pair well with vanilla, lemon, pistachio, almond,
mascarpone, or white chocolate. The Riffa resident recounted eating
mulberries as a child back home in Coorg, India.
“I would love to
create a lemon mulberry loaf, perhaps, or even a mulberry galette. I
feel the fruit would work beautifully in rustic-style desserts with
fresh flavours and simple textures that really let the mulberries
shine,” she added.
