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5 days ago
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KABUL, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Out successful the Afghan countryside, determination are these oval clay containers called Kangana. You tin spot them everywhere, piled precocious successful stacks oregon sitting connected the backs of carts.
Though humble successful appearance, the infinitesimal these enigma boxes are opened, 1 cannot assistance but respect the millennial contented of the section people. Without energy oregon modern technology, Afghans usage these elemental clay cases to sphere grapes for up to six months, keeping them plump, juicy and delicious.
Afghanistan has a agelong past of grape cultivation. Thanks to the continental climate, with abundant sunshine and important day-night somesthesia variations, provinces similar Kandahar and Balkh person go cardinal grape-growing regions. In oases surrounded by mountains and arid land, grapes are not lone a beloved effect but besides a captious root of income for galore families.
The Kangana is typically made of 2 clay plates joined to signifier an oval container. Once sealed, it becomes airtight, creating a earthy vacuum, an effectual and elemental preservation system. Its thick, enclosed operation not lone blocks aerial and slows oxidation but besides prevents moisture nonaccomplishment and protects the effect from bruising, making it perfect for transport implicit unsmooth terrain.
Crafting a Kangana requires patience. In summer, artisans prime fertile clay, premix successful chopped straw for flexibility, and knead it repeatedly until smooth. Using aged containers arsenic molds, they hand-shape each bowl. The pieces are past sun-dried gently, distant from harsh vigor oregon rain, until solid. Within days, the Kangana is acceptable to safeguard nature's bounty.
During harvest, radical cautiously prime clusters of ripe, unblemished grapes, unwashed to debar spoilage, and spot them mildly into the Kangana. The seam is sealed tightly with good clay to support aerial out. The containers are past stored successful cool, adust cellars distant airy and humidity, wherever the grapes participate a play of quiescent dormancy.
By March oregon April of the pursuing year, erstwhile outpouring breezes expanse crossed the Hindu Kush Mountains, the Kangana are reopened. The scent of summertime effect inactive wafts forth, and the grapes stay saccharine and fresh.
Though erstwhile utilized to sphere chilies, apples, and different produce, the Kangana is present chiefly utilized for grapes, particularly the thick-skinned, juicy, and robust Taifi grapes.
The Kangana stands arsenic a testament to the harmony betwixt the Afghan radical and their earthy environment.
In an epoch without refrigerators oregon plastic, radical turned to the world for solutions, utilizing contented and diligence to seizure freshness successful time. Today, the Kangana is not lone a applicable instrumentality but besides a cherished intangible taste heritage, softly telling the communicative of a resilient and ingenious people.
Photographer:Li Ang, Saifurahman Safi, Sanaullah Seiam
Text:Li Ang, Yu Yang
English (US) ·