Raisins

Raisins are dried grapes with a sweet, chewy bite. They are often eaten by the handful as a snack or mixed with nuts on a dried fruit plate. In the kitchen they are added to rice dishes and stuffings, stirred into oatmeal and breakfast bowls, and baked into cakes, breads and cookies. Many cooks soak them briefly in warm water before use so they plump up. You can find raisins on the shelf at Dekenet Al Nes in Baaqline, in the Chouf, alongside other nuts and dried goods sold by the kilo. Dekenet Al Nes is a package-free grocery store, so customers are encouraged to bring their own containers or bags and take only the amount they need, which helps cut plastic waste and single-use packaging.