Uzbekistan's Fruit by Season: From Cherries to Pomegranates
A month-by-month fruit calendar: when to come for apricots, grapes, figs and persimmons, and where to go to taste them at their best.
Uzbekistan is rightly called a land of fruit. A warm summer, dry air and plenty of sun make local apricots, melons, grapes and pomegranates truly sweet. If you are choosing when to travel, the fruit calendar can be a great guide: every month has its own flavour.
Spring: March to May
Spring starts early in Uzbekistan. Orchards bloom in March and April, and the first fruit appears towards May.
- Strawberries and first greens. From late April or early May, fresh strawberries, radishes, young onions and herbs appear at markets.
- Cherries. Towards the end of May and in June cherry season begins. They are large, juicy and sweet, especially in the foothills.
- Early apricots may appear in late May, but the main season is still ahead.
How to use it: in spring, go for blooming orchards and the first cherries. Good places are the foothills and the Fergana Valley.
Summer: June to August
Summer is the peak of the fruit season.
- Apricots (June to July). Uzbek apricots are famed for aroma and sweetness. They are eaten fresh and then dried into uryuk and kuraga.
- Peaches and plums. In July and August they are sold everywhere.
- Melons and watermelons (July to September). Melons are a particular national pride. All kinds are sold, from tender early varieties to dense winter ones.
- Grapes begin to ripen in late July and August. Early varieties give way to late ones.
- Raspberries, currants and berries turn up in mountain areas.
Summer is very hot, especially in the south and desert areas. Melons and watermelons then become the most refreshing treat.
Autumn: September to November
Autumn is the favourite season of many food lovers.
- Grapes (September to October). Uzbekistan grows dozens of varieties: light and dark, seeded and seedless. The best known are kishmish and husaini.
- Pomegranates (October to November). They are harvested in autumn and keep for a long time. Freshly squeezed pomegranate juice is sold right by the bazaars.
- Figs ripen in late summer and autumn.
- Apples and pears are harvested in September and October.
- Quince ripens in October.
- Persimmons (October to November) appear in late autumn and are sold until the first frosts.
The weather in autumn is mild, and it is one of the best times for travel around the country. Markets at this time overflow with fruit.
Winter: December to February
Winter has fewer fresh fruits, but they are replaced by:
- dried fruit: apricots, kuraga, raisins, figs, dried melon;
- nuts: walnuts, almonds, pistachios;
- pomegranates and apples that keep until spring;
- citrus, imported but available at markets.
In winter, try sweets made from dried fruit and nuts, and compotes too.
Where to go for fruit
The best places for fruit trips are those with many orchards and fertile land.
- The Fergana Valley is the orcharding centre: apricots, grapes, pomegranates, melons. Valley cities: Fergana, Andijan, Namangan, Kokand.
- The Samarkand region: grapes, apples, pomegranates.
- Khorezm is famed for melons and watermelons.
- Bukhara: melons, grapes, pomegranates.
- The foothills of the Tashkent region: cherries, apples, berries.
Tips for buying fruit
- Ask to taste: a good seller always offers.
- Buy what is in season: it is tastier and cheaper.
- Do not buy too much: fruit spoils quickly in the heat.
- Wash fruit before eating.
- For gifts and the road, choose dried fruit and nuts.
- If you fly, check the rules for carrying fruit.
How to organise a trip
If you want to combine fruit and travel, build a route through the valley. From Tashkent to Namangan the road over the pass takes several hours, and on the Tashkent — Namangan page drivers post trips. Then you can move on to Andijan and Fergana: routes between these cities are short, for example Fergana — Andijan takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. Seats are booked in the Yo'ldosh app, and the price is usually lower than a taxi. See more directions on the all routes page.
The calendar in one table
| Month | What to look for |
|---|---|
| May to June | Strawberries, cherries |
| June to July | Apricots, peaches, plums |
| July to August | Melons, watermelons, early grapes |
| September to October | Grapes, apples, figs, pears |
| October to November | Pomegranates, persimmons, quince |
| December to February | Dried fruit, nuts, pomegranates |
Dates depend on the weather of a particular year and region, so use the table as a guide.
The takeaway
In Uzbekistan there is no bad season for fruit: every month brings a new flavour. If you like berries and cherries, come in May and June. If you dream of melons and apricots, choose summer. Want grapes and pomegranates? Autumn. And in winter, dried fruit and nuts always help.
Cover photo: Manjeshwari poet mysore, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
