Apricots Orchid | Misgar, Hunza Valley | Rosie Gabrielle
I thought I had FOOD POISONING for 6 weeks!!!
Turns out, it was just an overload of APRICOTS 
In the late months of summer, all across the north, you’ll see apricot trees galore! Blossoming an abundance of bright coloured balls of juicy goodness.
By far the best apricots I’ve EVER had!
At any given time of day, you’d find me in the trees, pockets bursting with these tiny orange candies. I guess too much of anything can have it’s effect on you, but they were too good to resist
I stayed in a small village for a few weeks in upper Hunza called Misgar. I befriended a local family and they taught me everything about APRICOTS and why they are so special.
Did you know?!
There are over 52 species of Apricots! Inside each one there’s a secret treasure- the pit! Which I’ve always known to throw out. But if you crack it open, there’s an almond inside!
Each species of apricot has a different purpose. The sweet juicy ones are for eating fresh, or drying, & you can eat the seeds. The bitter ones are used for jams & the seeds are medicinal, pressed into oils and tinctures & used topically on the skin or for cooking. This oil is high in antioxidants & highly beneficial internally & externally.
No apricot goes to waste!
They climb the trees knocking them to the ground. It becomes a daily family ritual to pick up the fruit & separating into baskets. Each basket weighs around 20 kg! After, they carry it all the way back home.
The women gather around in a circle, in good spirits and rumbles of laughter.
Preparing the apricots & seeds to be naturally dried by the sun on their rooftops. There wasn’t a rooftop in the valley that wasn’t carpeted with dots of gold.
They store the dried fruit for the winter or sell it in markets. Straight from the trees, no sprays/dyes or sulfers, the quality is the best! It’s no wonder I couldn’t resist 
Apricots are not only one of the biggest production and incomes for families here, but it’s also a way of life and communal pastime.
Not only is it the organic food keeping them healthy, but the simple peaceful way of life.
I could definitely spend my days picking fruit from the trees and enjoying the simple pleasures of life
