TAXILA: The sweet smell of citrus spread through the damp air as dozens of citrus lovers gathered in orchards to enjoy the Khanpur red blood oranges on Sunday.

Like successive years, this year orange orchards located in the Punj Khatta area between Taxila and Khanpur remain the most favourite destination of citrus lovers. Makeshift kiosks are set up on Taxila-Khanpur Road every year between December and February. Commuters travelling on inter-provincial routes stop to enjoy the freshly-picked fruit, some taking it as a gift for their near and dear ones. Varieties of oranges like hamlin, ruby red and mussami sell like hot cakes despite the high prices this year. At present, red blood oranges are being sold between Rs1,500 to Rs1,600 while shakri is available for Rs1,400 per 100 pieces.

Scores of families were seen enjoying the fresh citrus in the orchards.

Fizza Raja, who is on a vacation with her family from the United Kingdom, said she was having a great time eating oranges in the orchard.

“I am here to see for myself how the oranges are picked in the orchards. I had not realised that the best feeling is not just picking oranges but sitting under the sun with my family and eating them. This is a unique experience,” she added.

Sana Shah, another visitor from Islamabad, said she visited these farms every year to taste the red blood oranges. “Timely rain and favourable weather this year has added to the taste,” she added.

According to data of the local crop reporting centre, the area which spreads over 280 hectares produces around 2,200 to 2,400 tonnes of the fruit per annum. According to the centre, the citrus produced in this area is unique in its juice content and taste, especially red blood oranges, besides other varieties, including hamlin, ruby red, shakri, mussami, fruiter and grapefruit.

Tahir Durrani, a local farm owner, told Dawn that farmers in Punj Khatta area produced one of the best oranges in the world. “Our produce is recognised in the international market due to its aroma and taste.”

Raja Kamran, another farm owner, said the recent spell of rain and dew falling in the night over these trees added to the unique juice content and taste of the fruit which had been missing earlier.

He said the famous red blood oranges were now fully ripe and available in the kiosks established along the farms.

According to Dr Syed Asad Ali, president of Pakistan Academy of Family Physicians (Taxila chapter), oranges are an important member of the citrus family and valued for their quality of having nearly 47.5pc of juice - the highest for all citrus fruits - while its sugar content is 12pc.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2021