Fruits of Swat
Spring starts with strawberries and mulberries. Summer brings peaches, apricots, plums and figs. Autumn is apples, pears, grapes, walnuts, quince, persimmons and pomegranates. Dates shift by a few weeks with the weather.
Spring
The first sweet fruit of the year, from river gardens and town trees.
April – JuneSwat Mulberries
Toot
Dark, juicy mulberries that ripen on town and roadside trees in late spring.
Mingora, Matta, village gardens
Photo: Aomorikuma, CC BY-SA 4.0. Shows the fruit, not a Swat orchard.
April – JuneSwat Strawberries
Strawberry
Plump red strawberries from spring orchards along the river.
Mingora, Charbagh
May – JuneSwat Cherries
Cherry
Glossy red cherries with a sweet, slightly tart bite.
Mingora, Madyan, Bahrain
Summer
Stone fruit and figs fill the bazaar while the valley is still green.
June – JulySwat Apricots
Khubani
Tiny golden apricots bursting with sweet-tart flavor.
Kalam, Bahrain, Ushu
June – AugustSwat Peaches
Shaftalu
Sun-blushed peaches with soft, juicy flesh and a sweet aroma.
Mingora, Khwazakhela, Matta
July – SeptemberSwat Figs
Anjeer
Soft late-summer figs from gardens in the warmer lower valley.
Mingora, Barikot, lower-valley gardens
Photo: Fumikas Sagisavas, CC0. Shows the fruit, not a Swat orchard.
July – AugustSwat Plums
Aloocha
Deep red plums with juicy flesh and a refreshing tang.
Mingora, Charbagh, Kabal
Autumn
Apples, pears, grapes, walnuts, quince, persimmons and pomegranates share the stalls.
August – OctoberSwat Apples
Manra
Crisp, sweet apples grown in the cool orchards of upper Swat.
Kalam, Bahrain, Madyan, Matta
August – OctoberSwat Grapes
Angoor
Table grapes from vines in the lower and middle valley.
Kabal, Mingora, lower and mid valley
Photo: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0. Shows the fruit, not a Swat orchard.
August – SeptemberSwat Pears
Naashpati
Crisp, watery pears with a delicate floral sweetness.
Kalam, Bahrain, Matta
September to NovemberSwat Persimmons
Japani Phal
Honey-sweet orange persimmons that arrive in Swat markets with the autumn harvest.
Mingora, Matta, Khwazakhela
September – NovemberSwat Pomegranates
Anar
Autumn pomegranates from the warmer lower valley.
Barikot, Mingora, lower Swat
Photo: Julia Fraedrich, CC BY 2.0. Shows the fruit, not a Swat orchard.
September – NovemberSwat Quince
Bihi
Fragrant autumn quince, usually cooked rather than eaten raw.
Matta, Madyan, apple and pear belts
Photo: Donovan Govan, CC BY-SA 3.0. Shows the fruit, not a Swat orchard.
September – OctoberSwat Walnuts
Ghuz
Thin-shelled, buttery walnuts grown wild around mountain forests.
Kalam, Mahodand, Ushu Forest