On any hot afternoon in Afghanistan—and in many countries along the route of the ancient Silk Road—it’s typical to find residents and travelers resting and enjoying tea with dried fruits and nuts. When Patrick Johnson and Raffi Vartanian experienced this themselves, it sparked the idea that led to our newest new snack partner, Ziba Foods.

Patrick and Raffi found the experience rewarding and the snacks both healthy and tasty, so they set out on a mission to bring these unique tastes to America. 

“We believe that healthy snacks should be delicious, and that delicious snacks can be good for your health,” they said, echoing our own perspective.

Ziba means "beautiful" in Farsi, And like our other terrific partners in the airfare marketplace, Ziba stands for more than simply selling healthy snacks. 

Prioritizing fairness and respect for Afghan farmers and women

Ziba’s mission stands out because of its focus both on the products and the people who make them.

One of the many challenges facing Afghan fruit and nut farmers is an economic imbalance between the farmers who rely on sales to feed their families and some of the traders who take advantage of this need, ​​Ziba notes on its website.

Ziba is working to change this unfortunate reality and rebalance the scales. Ziba’s way of doing business “protects the quality of our products, bolsters the reputation of Afghan dried fruit and nuts, and allows us to sustain relationships with farmers and cooperatives across the country, providing them with a reliable source of income, often for the first time,” the company said.  

In addition to standing up for farmers, Ziba is focused on supporting and improving the role of women in Afghan society. With chronically high rates of unemployment, Afghan women are often marginalized across all economic sectors, the company notes. Ziba’s workforce across management and staff positions is 85 percent female.

With the foundation of an admirable company that stands for worthwhile causes, we can turn to the tasty part: four unique new snacks now available in the airfare marketplace. 

Ziba’s lineup is too good to limit ourselves, so we couldn’t stop at one, two or even three. Give all four a try, and we think you’ll agree. 

Dried White Mulberries 

If you have never had a dried mulberry, this is your chance. You will not be disappointed. 

These mulberries grow wild at the base of the Hindu Kush mountains in northern Afghanistan, and they are naturally sweet and crunchy, serving as both a great snack and a topping. 

Sweet Apricot Kernels

These were one of the most unique-yet-familiar snacks to find their way into snack HQ. 

Found inside apricot pits, these “superseeds” resemble small almonds. Coming from Bamyan—an Afghan city more than 8,000 feet above sea level—they taste like nuts, yet with deeper and more complex flavors.

Baby Pistachio Kernels 

We love these wild, baby pistachios as a new twist on the usuals found in most American stores and snacks. Fans of salty snacks will love them.

Ziba’s wild baby pistachio kernels are foraged from the mountainsides of Samangan in northern Afghanistan. They are dry-roasted without oil and lightly dusted with Afghan salt. 

Sun-Dried Figs

These are a new take and perfect complement to our wonderful fig snack from Fruit Bliss. Ziba’s sun-dried and sliced technique is a whole different approach to the mighty, healthy fig to the rehydrated, whole-fruit variety.

Grown in southern Afghanistan, these figs are “highly sought after for their rich flavor, high fiber content, and unique disc shape,” Ziba says. We’re all in for the natural chewy texture and sweet flavor.