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Dried apricots are a type of traditional dried fruit. When treated with sulfur dioxide (E220), the color is vivid orange. Organic fruit not treated with sulfur vapor is darker in color and has a coarser texture.〔http://books.google.com/books?id=o6e0z1srROMC&pg=PT999〕 Generally, the lighter the color, the higher the SO2 content.〔http://www.fruitsofturkey.com/product/1021/dried-fruits/1023/dried-apricot.aspx〕 Light-colored varieties (with the sulfur content of more than 2000 ppm) are banned in the European Union.〔http://www.malatyaapricots.com/bazimakaleler/Chronica%20hort.pdf〕 Apricots have been cultivated in Central Asia since antiquity, and dried ones were an important commodity on the Silk Road. They could be transported over huge distances due to their long shelf life. Before the 20th century, they were ubiquitous in the Ottoman, Persian, and Russian Empires. In more recent times, California was the largest producer, before being overtaken by Turkey,〔''The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink'' (ed. Andrew F. Smith). Oxford University Press, 2007. ISBN 9780195307962. Page 22.〕 where about 95% of the production is provided by the Malatya Province. Small apricots are normally dried whole. Larger varieties are dried in halves, without the kernel. In the former Soviet Union, the former are known as ''uryuk'' (урюк), used primarily for making kompots, and the latter as ''kuraga'' (курага).〔http://books.google.com/books?id=QcaJAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA4〕 Ethnic foods based on dried apricots include ''qubani ka meetha'' in India and ''chamoy'' in Mexico. Dried apricots are an important source of carotenoids (vitamin A) and potassium.〔http://www.livestrong.com/article/87932-dried-apricots/〕 Due to their high fiber to volume ratio, they are sometimes used to relieve constipation or induce diarrhea.〔Karin Cadwell, Edith White. ''The Natural Laxative Cookbook''. Sterling Pub Co Inc, 1995. ISBN 9780806913445. Page 17.〕 Dried apricots normally do not have any sugar added and have a low glycemic index.〔 The maximum moisture rate allowed in Turkey is 25%.〔http://www.agriculturekey.com/agric-byp_1651018_Turkish-Dried-Apricot.htm〕 == See also == * List of dried foods 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「dried apricot」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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