Holi: How To Identify Fake Dry Fruits?

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What is Holi without dry fruits, right? From kaju, badam to anjeer and kismis, dry fruits are used for gifting, making sweets at home and simply munching on. Do you know, however, that during the Holi festival, fake and adulterated sweets and dry fruits are available in the markets?

How To Identify Fake Dry Fruits?

This Holi, let us tell you some easy ways to tell the difference between real dry fruits and those that are fake. Take a look.

Colour

When comparing real and fake dry fruits, the colour of fake dry fruits differs greatly. The colour of fake dry fruits is darker than the colour of real dry fruits. In order to enhance the appearance of fake dry fruits, they are often treated with chemical colourants and preservatives.

In addition, fake dry fruits are often overripe or under-ripe, thus giving them a darker appearance [1].

Taste

Dry fruit made artificially, unlike real fruit, is not subjected to the same kind of natural ripening process that real fruit is exposed to.

Experts claim that fake dry fruits have a bitter taste. Because the fruit does not have enough time to develop its natural sugars, it has a bitter taste due to the lack of ripening [2].

Let's examine some of the most commonly purchased dry fruits and how to identify fakes.

How to identify fake cashews?

Identifying fake cashews from real ones is largely determined by their scent and colour. When you smell oil or see yellowness on the cashews, you can easily determine that the cashews are fakes.

Ways to identify adulterated raisins

Artificial raisins are sweetened with sugar. If you notice a drop of water or moisture on the raisins, then you should understand that they are fake. Rubbing fake raisins on your hands leaves a yellowish colour. Furthermore, smelling fake raisins also produces a sulphuric odour [3].

How to identify fake figs?

The best way to identify a genuine fig (anjeer) is to chew it. A real fig is soft when you bite into it. A fake fig will be hard when you bite into it. The same applies for pistachios.

How can you tell if almonds are good quality?

It is common practice for people to apply a colour coating to almonds in order to make them appear genuine. In order to determine whether almonds are real or fake, rub them with your hands and if the saffron colour leaves, then you are dealing with an adulterated product.

Tips to differentiate fake and real walnuts

The kernel of real walnuts is light brown or golden. The fake and adulterated walnut looks dark brown. This is due to the fake walnuts having been dyed to a darker colour. As the walnuts are not dyed, they retain their natural light brown or golden colour [4].

On A Final Note...

In addition to having a high fibre content, dry fruits can cause increased gas production, constipation, or diarrhoea due to the increased pressure they place on the digestive and metabolic systems of the body.

So, when this becomes adulterated, imagine the effect it can have on your health!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.