Swat Quince
Local name: Bihi
September – November Matta, Madyan, apple and pear belts
Photograph of the fruit by Donovan Govan, CC BY-SA 3.0. The picture shows the fruit. It was not taken in a Swat orchard.
About Swat Quince
Quince, bihi, ripens in autumn in the same orchard belts as apples and pears. The fruit is firm and strongly scented. In Swat kitchens it is more often stewed or cooked than bitten into raw.
Why it's famous
A few quince in a room perfume the air. That scent, more than sweetness, is how people know the fruit is ready.
Harvest season
September – November
Where it grows
Matta, Madyan, apple and pear belts
Growing areas
Common uses
- 1Stewed fruit
- 2Murabba and preserves
- 3Cooked with meat
Fun fact
A raw quince looks like a yellow apple but stays hard and tart. Cooking is what turns it soft and fragrant.
At the stall
In season
The usual window is September – November. A warm or late year can move it by a couple of weeks.
How to buy
Choose fruit that smells like itself and feels heavy for its size. Avoid anything crushed or leaking.
Use fresh
Eat or cook it close to the day you buy it. Mountain fruit loses aroma quickly once it sits.
FAQs about Swat Quince
When is Swat Quince season in Swat?+
September – November. The weeks move with the weather, so a warm or late spring can shift the harvest.
Where does Swat Quince grow in Swat?+
Swat Quince is grown around Matta, Madyan, apple and pear belts. Places people name most often: Matta, Madyan, Orchards with apples and pears.
What is Swat Quince called locally?+
In Swat bazaars the fruit is widely known as Bihi.
What is Swat Quince used for?+
Stewed fruit. Murabba and preserves. Cooked with meat.
Are Swat Quince from Swat organic?+
Spray use varies by orchard. Ask the grower if you want fruit grown with little or no spray. This page does not certify any fruit as organic.
