Prices of Xinjiang dried fruits – Efficacy and prices of Xinjiang raisins
Turpan, Xinjiang, is an important production base for grapes in China. Xinjiang grapes are renowned worldwide, especially the raisins from Turpan. Turpan is located in the intermountain basin of the eastern Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, where the grape planting area covers 500,000 mu (about 33,333 hectares), with an annual grape production of 500,000 tons and over 100 grape varieties. The raisin production in Turpan accounts for more than 40% of the national total. The raisins in Xinjiang are produced in the Turpan area. Turpan is famous for its grapes in Grape Valley, which is a valley running north-south for 8 kilometers in the Flaming Mountains. It is known worldwide for its extensive grape cultivation, with nearly 100 varieties of grapes such as seedless white, mare’s milk grapes, bijagan, red rose, and suosuo, forming a natural grape museum. The unique natural conditions of Turpan Basin, including its low-lying terrain, high temperatures with little rainfall, abundant sunshine, and large diurnal temperature variation, contribute to the abundant production of grapes. These conditions also create the extraordinary quality of the raisins.
Classification
Xinjiang raisins can be classified according to the type of grapes used: seedless white, super green, seedless green Xiangfei, seedless rose Xiangfei, seedless red Xiangfei, Wangzhongwang, mare’s milk grapes, man’s fragrance, rose grapes, golden queen, Xiangfei red, black currant, desert king, chocolate, yogurt grapes, suosuo, Kashihaer, rijagan, etc. Raisins made from seedless white grapes have a sugar content of up to 60% and are considered a treasure among grapes.
Efficacy
It can improve the body’s metabolic function, quickly eliminate fatigue, reduce excess fat, improve blood circulation, normalize high blood pressure, reduce obesity, improve gastrointestinal function, and alleviate constipation. Raisins are rich in iron and calcium, making them an excellent tonic for children, women, and those with anemia, as they can replenish blood and qi, warm the kidneys, and treat anemia and thrombocytopenia. Raisins contain a large amount of glucose, which nourishes the myocardium and aids in the recovery of patients with coronary heart disease. They also contain various minerals, vitamins, and amino acids. Regular consumption is beneficial for those with neurasthenia and excessive fatigue. Additionally, they are an excellent dietary therapy for gynecological diseases. Raisins also help protect cardiovascular health. Studies have shown that raisins can lower cholesterol, prevent blood clot formation, and prevent cardiovascular diseases. They also contain flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties, can scavenge free radicals in the body, and delay aging. Recent studies have also proven that raisins have anticancer effects, with resveratrol effectively preventing cellular canceration or inhibiting the growth of malignant tumors.
Preparation
Produced in Xinjiang from soft, high-sugar, seedless ‘Sultana’ grapes.
The processing methods are as follows: One method is to directly expose the grapes to sunlight to make brown raisins. Another method is to dry them in drying houses. Throughout Xinjiang, only Turpan Basin and Hotan Prefecture use this method. The climate here is dry, with high temperatures and frequent dry hot winds in autumn. The drying house is built on the rooftop or slope, with a height of 3 meters, a width of 4 meters, and a length of 6 to 8 meters. It is constructed with adobe bricks, with walls covered in small ventilation holes. Inside, there are rows of wooden racks where mature grape bunches are hung. Under the blowing of dry hot winds, they become green, pearl-like, soft, sweet, and nutritious raisins in 30 to 45 days. The famous Xinjiang ‘seedless green raisins’ are made this way, with a sugar content as high as 69.71% and acidity of 1.4 to 2.1%. The third method is a rapid drying method, where grapes are first treated with a dehydrating agent and then dried in a drying house or with a drying machine, greatly shortening the drying time. Xinjiang has a long history of raisin production. According to ‘Taiping Guangji’, during the Datong period of the Southern Liang Dynasty (535-540 AD), the Gaochang Kingdom (today’s Turpan County) sent envoys to Emperor Wu of Liang to contribute raisins. Archaeologists have also discovered raisins in Tang Dynasty tombs in Turpan. The raisins produced in Turpan are sold domestically to various provinces and cities and also exported to Japan, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and other places.
Ingredients: Grapes.
Operation:
1. Raw material selection: For drying, grapes should be selected for their thin skin, plump and soft flesh, attractive appearance, and high sugar content. Generally, seedless varieties like ‘Sultana’, ‘Thompson Seedless’, and seeded varieties like ‘Muscat’, ‘Milk’ are used. The fruit should be fully ripe but not overripe.
2. Trimming bunches: After harvesting, trim away too small and damaged berries. Cut large bunches into smaller ones and lay them out in a single layer on drying trays.
3. Alkali dipping treatment: To accelerate drying and shorten water evaporation time, alkali solution treatment can be used. Dip in a 1.5 to 4% sodium hydroxide solution for 1 to 5 seconds. Thin-skinned varieties can also be treated with a 0.5% sodium carbonate solution or a mixed solution of sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide for 3 to 6 seconds. Rinse the alkali-treated raw materials immediately in clean water. The drying time for fruit treated with alkali dipping can be shortened by 8 to 10 days. When drying white raisins, sulfur fumigation for 3 to 5 hours is also required.
4. Drying in the sun: Load grapes into drying trays and expose them to sunlight for about 10 days. When part of the surface is dry, turn them over completely, placing the wetter ones on the surface to continue drying. When two-thirds of the fruit is dry and there is no grape juice seeping out when squeezed by hand, stack the drying trays and let them dry in the shade for a week. In sunny weather, the total drying time is about 20 to 25 days.
5. Softening: Stack the fruit bunches for 15 to 20 days to allow even drying, and remove the fruit stems to complete the product. 6. Packaging: Raisins can be packaged in cloth bags or wooden boxes. Cloth bags come in 50kg or 25kg sizes, while wooden boxes generally hold 25kg.
Xinjiang raisin procurement phone:
0991-8585456 (Same)