The kingdom is home to diverse varieties of the superfood, including the tart, red Bahraini mulberry, which is widely used to make juices or enjoyed as is. Other types inlcude Chinese, Thai and Kashmiri.
“The Thai variety is a good balance of sweet and sour and has a beautiful colour, and the greenish Kashmiri ones are more sugary,” Mohammed Abdullah, who owns a farm in Karranah, told GulfWeekly.
The 30-year-old, who grew up watching his father and grandfather on their family farm also grows other produce, including tomatoes and lettuce.
“We sell at the farmers’ markets that take place in Bahrain,” he said, adding that it has been a good harvest for mulberries this year.
“Even though I work a fulltime government job, farming is close to my heart and I dedicate my spare time to it.”
Many Bahrainis who were raised on family farms have continued to pursue their love for growing things into adulthood.
Among them is Mohsen Al-Bouri, who owns a farm in Buri. He grows a variety of mulberries and noted that he has always enjoyed a good harvest. Additionally, the 29-year-old has been collaborating with businesses that make achar (‘pickle’) and juices, and highlighted that ice creams and khubz al rigag – an Arabic crepe often enjoyed with sweet or savoury fillings – are also popular mulberry flavoured snacks.
Speaking about his journey for the last 13 years, he added that he was one of the first farmers to participate in Mara’ee (Bahrain International Exhibition for Agricultural and Animal Production) and has since encouraged fellow farmers to join the event.
Bahrain is home to many initiatives that support local farmers. Among them is the Farmers’ Market in Hoorat A’ali.
“These programmes give us more exposure and subsequently more customers,” he noted.
Ebrahim Sabt from Karranah has been selling his wares at the market since its inception in 2018.
“We get a lot of patrons especially on weekends and holidays” added the sexagenarian.
lThe farmers’ interviews were conducted in Arabic by Rima Alhaddad.
SOME FACTS
*They are rich in vitamins and antioxidants, making them a healthy snack option, packed with nutrients, including vitamin C, vitamin K, iron and fibre.
*Mulberry leaves are often used in traditional medicine for their potential health benefits.
*Mulberry trees are fast-growing and can reach heights of up to 30 feet, and are known for their long lifespan, with some trees living for hundreds of years.
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