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In pictures: Harvesting the gum of the pistachio tree
Harvesting the gum of the Pistacia atlantica tree has a long history among the Kurds. The tree, a species of the pistachio tree, is known in Sorani Kurdish as daraban.
There are many daraban trees in the Kurdish mountain areas and many Kurds harvest the gum. But in some areas, the practice has been banned as it damages the trees, weakening or even killing them.
The gum is used for making medicines and is also popular in the region where it is chewed.
These photos were taken in Dzli in Rojhelat, Iranian Kurdistan. One kilogram of gum, before it has been boiled, sells for about $12 in Iran.
To harvest the gum, the tree is pierced and the sap is collected over several months in a cup made from clay.
The sap is then boiled and filtered.
There are many daraban trees in the Kurdish mountain areas and many Kurds harvest the gum. But in some areas, the practice has been banned as it damages the trees, weakening or even killing them.
The gum is used for making medicines and is also popular in the region where it is chewed.
These photos were taken in Dzli in Rojhelat, Iranian Kurdistan. One kilogram of gum, before it has been boiled, sells for about $12 in Iran.
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In pictures: Harvesting the gum of the pistachio tree
In pictures: Harvesting the gum of the pistachio tree
In pictures: Harvesting the gum of the pistachio tree
In pictures: Harvesting the gum of the pistachio tree
In pictures: Harvesting the gum of the pistachio tree
In pictures: Harvesting the gum of the pistachio tree
In pictures: Harvesting the gum of the pistachio tree
In pictures: Harvesting the gum of the pistachio tree
In pictures: Harvesting the gum of the pistachio tree
In pictures: Harvesting the gum of the pistachio tree
In pictures: Harvesting the gum of the pistachio tree
In pictures: Harvesting the gum of the pistachio tree
In pictures: Harvesting the gum of the pistachio tree
In pictures: Harvesting the gum of the pistachio tree
In pictures: Harvesting the gum of the pistachio tree
In pictures: Harvesting the gum of the pistachio tree
In pictures: Harvesting the gum of the pistachio tree
In pictures: Harvesting the gum of the pistachio tree
In pictures: Harvesting the gum of the pistachio tree
In pictures: Harvesting the gum of the pistachio tree
In pictures: Harvesting the gum of the pistachio tree