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Best Dry Fruits for Winter in Pakistan: A Simple Guide

When the weather turns cold, dry fruits become part of daily life in Pakistan, from a bowl of moongphali after dinner to chilgoza by the heater and gajar ka halwa topped with almonds. If you are stocking up for winter, this guide covers the favourites, what each one is best for, and how to buy and store them so they last the whole season.

1. Chilgoza (pine nuts)

The king of winter dry fruits. Chilgoza grow on wild pine trees in the northern mountains and are harvested by hand each autumn, which makes them the most special (and most expensive) nut on the list. Crack them open one by one on cold evenings, or add the kernels to pulao and kheer.

Best for: winter evenings, gifting. Read our full chilgoza guide or buy Chilasi chilgoza.

2. Akhrot (walnuts)

Walnuts are a winter staple, especially Kashmiri walnuts with their thin, easy-to-crack shells. They are a natural source of plant-based omega-3 (ALA), fibre and protein. Buy them in the shell if you like cracking them fresh, or as akhrot giri if you want them ready to use in baking and halwa.

Best for: daily snacking, halwa, cakes. Shop Kashmiri walnuts or akhrot giri.

3. Badam (almonds)

Almonds are the most versatile dry fruit: soaked in the morning, blended into milk, or sliced over desserts. They are a natural source of vitamin E and magnesium. Almonds in the shell stay fresh the longest.

Best for: breakfast, desserts, a morning habit. See our guide to soaked badam and anjeer and shop almonds.

4. Khubani (dried apricots)

Sun-dried apricots from Hunza are naturally sweet and chewy, with no added sugar. They are a natural source of fibre and potassium. Eat them as a snack, or soak them to make the classic khubani ka meetha.

Best for: a sweet snack without sweets, desserts. Shop Hunza dried apricots.

5. Anjeer (dried figs)

Soft, honey-sweet dried figs are a favourite in winter breakfasts. Soak two or three overnight or blend them into milk. They are a natural source of fibre and calcium.

Best for: breakfast, milkshakes. Shop dried anjeer.

6. Pista and kaju (pistachios and cashews)

Pistachios in the shell are the tea-time and guest favourite, while cashews bring a creamy sweetness to snacking and to rich dishes like korma and biryani. Both are essential for Eid and wedding trays.

Best for: guests, gifting, cooking. Shop pistachios, kaju or plain non-fried kaju.

7. Moongphali (peanuts)

The everyday winter snack for the whole family. In-shell peanuts from Parachinar are full of flavour and the most affordable way to enjoy nuts every day.

Best for: family evenings on a budget. Shop Parachinar peanuts.

Make your own winter dry fruit mix

A simple mix that works for most families:

• 2 parts walnuts or akhrot giri
• 2 parts almonds
• 1 part dried apricots, chopped
• 1 part dried figs, chopped
• A small handful of pistachios or cashews

Keep it in a glass jar on the kitchen counter and enjoy a small handful a day. Add chilgoza for special occasions.

How much to buy

As a rough guide for a family of four, 1 kg each of walnuts and almonds, 500 g each of dried fruit like apricots and figs, and a 1 to 2 kg bag of peanuts will last most of the winter. Buy chilgoza in smaller packs, as they are best eaten fresh.

How to store dry fruits in winter

• Use airtight jars or zip bags and keep them in a cool, dry cupboard, away from the stove.
• Keep nuts in the shell until you need them; shelled kernels go stale faster.
• Store shelled nuts and dried fruit in the fridge if you are buying for the whole season.
• Use a clean, dry spoon. Moisture is the main cause of mould.

Order your winter stock online

Northern Harvest Trading delivers Grade A dry fruits and nuts from Pakistan's northern regions to your door, in 250 g to 2 kg packs, with cash on delivery across Pakistan. Browse the full shop or message us on WhatsApp for bulk and gift orders.