The Northern Farms Dried Mulberry (Shahtoot)

Sweet, fruity and naturally satisfying, The Northern Farms Dried Mulberry (Shahtoot) brings one of Pakistan's beloved seasonal fruits into a convenient dried form.

Grown in the agricultural landscapes of Northern Pakistan, mulberry has a long connection with mountain farming communities, including those of Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan. Traditionally enjoyed fresh during its short season, mulberry can also be dried to preserve its distinctive flavour and make it available for longer.

Our Dried Mulberry is made for those who appreciate naturally grown produce, traditional food practices and the unique flavours of Pakistan's northern regions.

Product	Dried Mulberry / Shahtoot
Origin	Chitral and Gilgit Baltistan of Northern Pakistan
Taste	Naturally sweet and fruity
Best enjoyed	As a snack, with breakfast, yogurt, cereals, nuts or desserts

The Story

In the valleys and mountain settlements of northern Pakistan, agriculture follows the rhythm of the seasons.

Fruit trees are an important part of traditional farming systems in areas such as Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan. Mulberry, locally known as Shahtoot, is among the fruits associated with these northern agricultural landscapes.

Chitral has a long-established horticultural tradition, with historical records identifying mulberry among the fruit trees cultivated in the region. Research has also documented white mulberry cultivation in Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan.

For generations, seasonal fruit has been an important part of rural food culture. Drying provides a simple way to preserve seasonal produce beyond the harvest period.

That tradition is part of the story behind dried Shahtoot.

Approximately 100 years old Mulberry tree in Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhaw

the Harvest: When the Whole Village Gathers

In the northern valleys, harvesting mulberries is more than a task. It is a celebration.

When a mulberry tree is ready to harvest, people from the village begin to gather around it. Children, women and men come together, carrying large pieces of cloth that will soon become their collection sheets.

But there is one important role that not everyone can take.

In every village, only a few people are skilled enough to climb these large, mature trees and harvest the fruit. Tree climbing is a skill learned through experience, passed from one generation to another. These experienced climbers know how to move through the branches, reach the fruit-laden parts of the tree and harvest the mulberries without unnecessarily damaging the tree.

Once the climber reaches a branch that is ready to harvest, the gathering below gets ready.

Women and children hold the edges of a large piece of cloth and spread it beneath the tree. Everyone watches the branches above, waiting for the signal.

Then the harvest begins.

The climber shakes the ripe branches, and sometimes uses his feet to gently kick the branch, causing the ripe mulberries to fall. From below, the children and women carefully hold the cloth open, catching the falling fruit before it reaches the ground.

For a moment, the whole tree becomes the centre of the village.

There is movement, laughter, conversation and the excitement of watching the berries fall from the branches. What might look like a simple harvest from the outside is, for the community, a shared seasonal tradition.

Mulberry Harvest

Fresh Mulberries

Once the fruit has been gathered, it is carefully collected and washed. Some of it is enjoyed fresh, while part of the harvest may be preserved for the winter or prepared for sale.

Drying: Naturally Under the Sun

Mulberries are delicate seasonal fruits. Their soft texture and high moisture content make careful harvesting and handling important.

Once harvested, fruit intended for drying needs to be prepared carefully before moisture is removed. Drying concentrates the fruit's natural character, creating a product that is easier to store and enjoy outside the fresh-fruit season.

Across northern Pakistan, fruit preservation has traditionally been connected to household farming and community knowledge. The process represents more than simply preserving food. It is a way of extending the value of a seasonal harvest.

For Mulberries, large wooden trays or clean stone surfaces are used to spread the harvested mulberries out for drying. The fruit is left to dry slowly under suitable conditions rather than being rushed through the process.

The aim is simple: preserve as much of the fruit's natural colour, flavour and character as possible.

Slow drying takes patience. Depending on weather and conditions, the process can take around 10 to 15 days.

The speed of drying matters. If the fruit is dried too quickly, it can lose its natural appearance and may turn black. A slower process allows the moisture to leave gradually, helping retain more of the colour and taste that make the freshly harvested mulberry special.

Day after day, the fruit continues its transformation.

What began as soft, freshly harvested Shahtoot becomes a naturally preserved fruit that can be stored for the colder months or prepared for sale.

From the tree to the cloth, from the hands of the community to the drying trays, every stage is part of the journey.

This is how a seasonal harvest becomes something that can be enjoyed long after the mulberry season has passed.

Mulberries are sun drying on a wooden tray in Chitral.

Dried mulberries ready for winter storage or market packaging.

The People Behind the Fruit

Every agricultural product has a human story behind it.

Northern Pakistan's farming communities depend on seasonal agriculture, orchards and traditional knowledge passed from one generation to the next. Farmers and agricultural workers contribute to the cultivation, harvesting, handling and processing of seasonal produce.

Women are an important part of agricultural value addition in the region as well.

At The Northern Farms, we believe the story of a product should not end with what is inside the packet. It should also acknowledge the landscapes, agricultural traditions and people connected to the food we eat.

A man scaling dried mulberry in Garam Chashma valley of Chitral

A Taste Shaped by Its Origin

Dried mulberries have a naturally sweet, fruity flavour that becomes more concentrated as the fruit loses moisture.

Compared with fresh Shahtoot, dried mulberry is more convenient to keep and enjoy throughout the year. Its texture can range from soft and chewy to slightly firm depending on the fruit variety and drying process.

Enjoy it on its own and you will get the simple character of dried Shahtoot. Pair it with nuts, yogurt or breakfast foods and it becomes an easy addition to everyday meals.

 

How to Enjoy Dried Mulberries

There is no complicated recipe required.

Open the pack and enjoy Dried Shahtoot straight as a snack, or use it in your everyday meals.

Try it with:

• Breakfast cereals
• Oats and porridge
• Yogurt
• Nuts and other dry fruits
• Homemade trail mixes
• Desserts
• Baking recipes
• Smoothie bowls
• Tea-time snacks

You can also chop dried mulberries and add them to homemade granola, energy bites or dessert toppings.

Their natural sweetness makes them particularly easy to pair with nuts and other dried fruits.

What Makes The Northern Farms Dried Mulberry Different?

From Northern Pakistan

Our product is connected to the agricultural heritage of Pakistan's northern mountain regions, where fruit cultivation has been part of rural life for generations.

A Familiar Local Fruit

Known throughout Pakistan as Shahtoot, mulberry is a familiar seasonal fruit with a distinctive sweet and fruity character.

Preserving a Seasonal Harvest

Drying provides a practical way of enjoying seasonal fruit beyond its fresh harvest period.

Rooted in Farming Communities

The story of dried fruit is connected to farmers, families and communities whose work brings seasonal produce from orchards and farms to consumers.

Simple and Versatile

Dried mulberry can be enjoyed directly from the pack or incorporated into breakfast, snacks and desserts.

From the Northern Farms

The Northern Farms exists to connect customers with agricultural products and food traditions from Pakistan's northern regions, while making their origins and stories easier to discover.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is dried mulberry?

Dried mulberry is fresh mulberry fruit that has been dried to remove much of its moisture. The process preserves the fruit for longer and gives it a more concentrated flavour and distinctive dried-fruit texture. In Pakistan, mulberry is commonly known as Shahtoot.

What is Shahtoot?

Shahtoot is the common name used for mulberry in Pakistan. It is a seasonal fruit grown in different parts of the country, including documented agricultural areas of northern Pakistan such as Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Where does The Northern Farms Dried Mulberry come from?

The product is sourced from Chitral and Gilgit Baltistan in Northern Pakistan.

Is mulberry grown in northern Pakistan?

Yes. Mulberry has a documented history of cultivation in northern Pakistan. Historical sources identify mulberry among fruit trees grown in Chitral, while agricultural research has documented white mulberry grown in Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan.

How is mulberry traditionally dried?

Traditional fruit-drying practices in northern Pakistan have included exposing harvested fruit to sunlight. In Gilgit-Baltistan, traditional drying has been documented on rooftops, rocks and other exposed surfaces. Modern solar-drying systems have also been introduced in some communities.

What does dried Shahtoot taste like?

Dried Shahtoot has a naturally sweet and fruity flavour. Because drying removes moisture, the fruit's flavour becomes more concentrated than fresh mulberry. Texture and sweetness can vary depending on the variety and drying process.

How can I eat dried mulberries?

You can enjoy them directly as a snack or add them to yogurt, oats, cereals, granola, trail mixes, desserts and other foods. They also pair particularly well with nuts and other dried fruits.

How should dried mulberries be stored?

Should be stored in airtight container in cool and dry place

Where can I buy dried mulberries in Pakistan?

You can purchase The Northern Farms Dried Mulberry through the official The Northern Farms online store and have it delivered within Pakistan, subject to the store's current delivery coverage.

A Taste of the North, Preserved for Longer

From a seasonal fruit in the orchard to a convenient dried snack, Shahtoot carries a story of agriculture, seasonality and northern Pakistan's food traditions.

The Northern Farms Dried Mulberry makes it easy to enjoy this familiar fruit beyond its fresh season, whether you eat it straight from the pack or make it part of your breakfast, snack or dessert.