Fruit

Bhutanese consume a wide variety of fruits. In the high valleys, people grow peaches, apricots, pears, apples, cherries and berries. In the warm valleys, Bhutanese grow banana, orange, litchi, cucumber, jackfruit, mango, grapes, papaya, avocada, pomagranate, parsimom, and sugar cane, which is also grouped among fruits. Bhutanese eat fruits raw and rarely use them in cooking. During ceremonial rituals, fruits are collected and first put on the altar as offering and only later eaten by people. At other times, Bhutanese eat fruits as snacks or refreshments and not as part of a meal. Fruits are also stored and preserved for later use.