Kangina Grapes

The traditional Afghan practice of Kangina—a centuries-old method for preserving grapes—originated in the arid highlands of central Afghanistan, particularly in provinces like Kandahar and Ghazni, where viticulture has thrived since pre-Islamic times.

Rooted in ancient agrarian customs, Kangina uses spherical clay vessels made from locally sourced mud and straw, a technology that likely evolved from early ceramic food storage traditions along Silk Road trade routes.

After harvest, select grape clusters are carefully laid inside the lower half of the vessel, covered with another clay bowl, and sealed with mud to create an oxygen-limited environment that naturally slows spoilage.

Archaeological and ethnographic evidence suggests similar preservation methods were practiced across Central and South Asia for millennia to extend the shelf life of fruit through long winters and trade journeys.

Beyond its practical purpose, Kangina reflects a broader cultural value of resourcefulness and continuity, preserving not only grapes but a tangible link to Afghanistan’s agrarian heritage and premodern ingenuity in food storage.