Grab some bottles to go and seek out a picturesque spot to taste them with the Cape Malay favourite, bobotie, a curried mince dish cooked with dried fruits and topped with a savoury egg custard.

BBC: Pouring pints in South Africa��s Cape Winelands

The other, espinacas a la catalana, a tapa of wilted spinach with raisins and pine nuts, demonstrates the Catalonian penchant for making savory food sweet with the addition of dried fruits.

WSJ: Jos�� Andr��s's Garlic Shrimp and Catalan Spinach | Slow Food Fast

Knead the dried fruits into the dough with the dough hook on low speed or stir them in with a wooden spoon.

NPR: Two Centuries of 'Baking in America'

This version is a big, gorgeous yeast bread, flavored with nutmeg, mace, brandy, and Madeira and containing a generous amount of dried fruits.

NPR: Two Centuries of 'Baking in America'

The area was once a bustling hub for the island's tea exporting business, and visitors can still explore temples with intricate roofs and the historic shopping district of Dihua Street, where vendors now sell dried fruits, nuts and other delicacies.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia | Travel Watch