00:00Sous-titrage Société Radio-Canada
00:30Sandwiched between the Cassian Sea and the lush Talish mountains,
00:36Lenkaren benefits from a unique subtropical microclimate.
00:40Conditions are perfect for growing an astounding variety of fruits and grains,
00:44which I get to taste at Citrus Valley Plantation,
00:47a family farm run by Raftera Shukurova.
01:00Sous-titrage Société Radio-Canada
01:09Juicy mandarins, tangy lemons, fragrant feijoa,
01:13the best of the region is concentrated here.
01:16And visitors can harvest them all.
01:17So I'm starting with the kiwi trees because those are the ripest right now.
01:23Sadly, I can't fit all these fresh fruits in my suitcase,
01:26but Raftera is going to show me how to make a unique souvenir I can take home.
01:30The process is simple, but requires time and care.
01:44From peeling and cutting the fruit to stewing them over the fire.
01:47Proportions are easy to remember.
02:02It's equal parts fruit and sugar with a splash of water.
02:06But some insider tips can elevate your jam,
02:09like cooking it over a wood fire to give it some extra flavor.
02:12It's tradition to eat fruit preserves with Lankaren black tea,
02:16brewed in a beautiful samovar.
02:19Mmm.
02:20It's delicious.
02:22It's delicious.
02:23Mm-hmm.
02:24Because you cook it.
02:26Mm-hmm.
02:32I now have a one-of-a-kind Lankaren souvenir to take home with me.
02:36But I can't leave without exploring the region's famous forests.
02:39My next stop is going to be a wild one.
02:43Nalankaren and Astara districts are home to ancient forests,
02:46including the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hyrkan National Park.
02:50Over generations, people have learned to coexist with this untamed nature,
02:54founding villages that to this day remain accessible only by foot or off-road vehicle.
02:59I'm joining a guide for an overland trip to one of them, called Sim Village.
03:04I feel a bit like Indiana Jones in this truck.
03:06We're about to ford a river.
03:08Sim Village was located on the ancient Silk Road.
03:16Today's residents mainly work growing vegetables, raising cattle, beekeeping, and welcoming tourists.
03:22Every season in Sim brings its own unique beauty.
03:40It's enchanting even in the rain.
03:41The leaves on the trees glisten and the rivers roar.
03:45Some of the sites are tucked deep into the forest,
04:01while others, like Bali Gaya or Honey Rock, are visible from nearly everywhere.
04:05To access the sites, there are trails for all levels, from beginners to seasoned hikers.
04:14We chose the short hike to Sheer Hall Waterfall for the refreshing, misty air.
04:18The energy feels ancient here, with a simplicity that quiets the mind.
04:28I'm ending my trip at one of the guest houses in town,
04:30where I've been offered more freshly brewed tea and marmalade,
04:34that Azerbaijani hospitality.
04:36I'm once again enjoying local fruit preserves underneath this beautiful walnut tree,
04:44with a gorgeous view of ancient forests all around me.
04:48The gifts of nature are abundant here, and I'm so lucky to get to enjoy them.
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