Sales of Fruit Chaat thrive in Ramazan bringing income and health benefits

Shazia Mehboob

ISLAMABAD: Fruit chaat stalls, set alongside different traffic routes and marketplaces in Islamabad are the hubs of business activity in the month of Ramazan. It is in much demand and greatly enjoyed by people for iftar.

Fruit chaat, a mixture of seasonal fruits like apple, banana, dates, strawberry, kiwi, and melon with the citric flavor of orange and lemon is a mouthwatering delicacy, refreshing and instantly energizing after a day-long fast. It is particularly popular during the month of  Ramazan,  a welcomed opportunity for the seasonal sellers to increase their sales.

People turn to selling chaat on a part-time basis to earn some extra money, explained Sohail Ahmed, a fruit ‘chaat’ seller in Sector G-7.

Ahmed, a taxi driver, sells fruit chat in the evening from the start of Ramazan. Ahmed sells homemade fruit chaat on a roadside setup near his house. Ahmed says a great number of people are always ready to buy it during the holy month, almost doubling his income.

Ahmed added that selling fruit chaat in Ramzan is a very profitable business as it does not require any huge investment. “I simply buy (25 to 30) Kg fruits daily from the market and cut them into slices with the help of my family and sell them to buyers every day before Iftar.”

Asif Hussain, a fruit seller at Faizabad, when asked explained that his sales have increased in Ramzan as passengers prefer to break their fast with fresh fruits or fruit chaat, “I have been selling fruits at Faizabad for many years now. Every Ramzan I simply cut fruits in cubical shapes that I mixed with sweet apricot nectar of apricot and little spice that turned into a delicious fruit chart. It is loved by passersby and passengers at Iftar time which gives me great financial support”.

Apart from the business benefits, there are definite health benefits too of consuming freshly made fruit chaat. Dr Romaisa Mughal, a nutritionist from Lahore, explained that the increased use of fruits and fruit-made dishes is a healthy sign and positive development, particularly in summer when the body gets dehydrated.  Dr Mughal further added that there are many fruits that keep the body hydrated especially in Ramazan like strawberries, watermelon, and melon grapefruits. These fruits keep skin hydrated and a person feels less thirsty while taking them at sehri or iftar. Regular use of at least a 200ml bowl of fresh fruits helps to achieve freshness.