Golden Raisins

Golden raisins, known in Lebanon as zbib ashkar, are dried grapes with a light amber colour and a sweet, mild taste. They are often eaten as a snack on their own or mixed with nuts, and they are added to rice dishes, salads, breakfast cereals and oatmeal. In baking, golden raisins go into cakes, breads, cookies and other sweets, and they can be soaked in water for a while before use to soften them. At Dekenet Al Nes in Baaqline, in the Chouf, golden raisins are sold by weight alongside the shop's nuts and dried fruits. As a package-free grocery, Dekenet Al Nes encourages customers to bring their own containers or jars and fill them with the amount they need, which helps cut plastic waste and single-use packaging.