Grapes food industries in Tartous

Grapes food industries,  including vinegar, molasses, raisins, jam , malban ( a mixture of grapes and semolina) and other food industries , are considered an annual task inherited by many families in Tartous Governorate, as these products enjoy various health benefits and constitute an additional source of income.

A resident of Mashta al-Helou Wafaa Te’imeh , indicated in a statement to a SANA reporter that she makes grapes malban in the fall season, by buying grapes and squeezing them to become liquid and filtering them from impurities, then adding flour and sugar to it and putting it on the fire to boil with constant stirring until it becomes a coherent liquid called “harira.”

She indicated that grapes malban, which has a distinctive taste, is considered a winter dessert and sold in all governorates, forming a source of livelihood for many people in the region.

From the village of Al-Soma’a in the countryside of Safita, Reem Darwish, the founder   of the rural project for preparing natural products, makes grapes vinegar to be used in  many meals  and characterized by its medical benefits.

The 29-year-old teacher Mariana Nasr from the village of Ain Balog in the countryside of Drikish, said that she makes grapes jam and adds some nuts to it such as walnuts, in addition to preparing various types of jams to constitute an additional source of income, to support her husband in facing the difficult circumstances. .

For his part, Head of the Plant Production Department in the Directorate of Agriculture in Tartous, Eng. Muhammad Hassan, said in a statement to SANA reporter that the grape crops of the current season is estimated about 9,115 tons, indicating that the area planted with grapes trees in the governorate amounted to about 826.55 hectares, and the total number of trees is about 410,474 .

He pointed out that the grapes production is subject to changes and climatic factors, as it is one of the irrigated and rain fed crops, adding the cultivation of grapes is spread in various regions in Tartous governorate.

Rawaa Ghanam