Hello From one foodie to another

Turpan Grapes

 

This one is more of a memorabilia page, because this was the most satiating snack (besides peanut butter and crackers) my sister and I had while driving around Xinjiang. These grapes were amazing because they were sweet and juicy and and also crunchy. We bought bags and bags of these little grapes. During our long bus rides, my sister and I would pull each get a stem out of the cooler and within a matter of minutes, the stems would be cleaned.

 

Turpan is located near Urumqi, Xinjiang's capital, in a mountain basin. It was a major trading center along the Silk road. One of their many agricultural products are grapes and they became famous for their raisin production as foreign travelers would try them. We saw how these grapes were made; they built special structures with many holes in them so as to allow the sun to dry them. They have recently expanded their grape industry and have started to produce their own wines. It was interesting to see their "grape valley" in the middle of a dessert. It wasn't surpising, however, because we also learned about their complex irrigation system.