Barberries, or berberis as biologists refer to them, grow throughout temperate and subtropical regions of the Middle East, Europe and North Africa. Iran is the biggest producer of barberries in the world and 97 percent of the crop is grown in the eastern province of South Khorasan.
Barberry is used in traditional herbal medicine as a mild antibiotic and to reduce blood pressure and swelling, to regulate the heartbeat, and many other purposes. However, Iranians mainly use it in their cuisine to flavor a range of dishes, from rice to poultry.
Photographs: Mohsen Nofarasti for Mehr News agency
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