How Camel Thorn Yields Desert ‘Sugar’

Camel thorn isn’t just a treat for the “ships of the desert.” People living on both sides of the Kum-Darya River enjoy it too. They don’t eat the plant’s stems or leaves, which can grow as tall as a person. Instead, they collect the sugary clumps that form on the branches. To harvest them, they spread a large piece of cloth under the bush and beat the branches with a stick to knock the sugary deposits loose.

One collector can gather up to 44 pounds of this desert sugar in a single day. Locals use it to make halva, candies, and even jam.