Herati plums, kishmish raisins, gurbandi almonds. If you've been to Afghanistan, you've likely tasted them. Wild-grown dried fruits and nuts are a staple in the country. And for Afghans, their distinctive taste is a point of pride. They've been an export of this country for years. In fact, in the 1970s, Afghanistan was renowned for being a world leader in the production of fruits and nuts. But things started to take a turn when the country became mired in conflicts. The economy collapsed. The modern equipment needed to compete globally was soon out of reach.

In 2015, though, the tide began to change. A small group of entrepreneurs, one from Afghanistan but now based abroad, alongside a couple of Americans, decided to form a company they called Ziba, which gets these delicacies into the hands—and mouths—of people around the world. Fast forward several years later, after the tumultuous American pullout in 2021, Ziba is still running strong. I sat down to speak with two of the founders, a baker, and an Afghan expert, to understand just what makes these fruits and nuts so unique and just how transformative this operation is when daily life in Afghanistan is still precarious. This piece ran on Monocle Radio's The Menu program.

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