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My husband was born and raised here and is from the Burusho indigenous community. After getting married, I left the United States and settled in the central Valley.
Here are some interesting customs that help the Hunza people live longer.
Apricot trees are one of the most important local crops in this valley. Research has shown that apricot seeds can help fight cancer and other sources of inflammation in the body, thanks in part to a compound called amygdalin.
Most people in Hunza own at least one apricot tree, and the seeds are harvested from the apricots every summer.
Photo: Samantha Shea
Almost all traditional Hunzai dishes contain apricot oil. In the past, it was made by hand, but now locals use machines to extract it from the harvested grain.
My mother-in-law told me that 50 years ago, everyone cooked their food, including meat. The dried fruit is effective against altitude sickness, and in winter it is boiled to make soup.
Father-in-law arranging dried apricots on the roof
Photo: Samantha Shea
People here are healthy and active throughout their lives, even into old age. Even in winter, I often see people in their 80s outdoors. Older family members still graze cattle and sheep, collect wood, and perform other household chores.
They also participate in community activities such as ‘rajaki’. This includes cleaning the elevated waterways once spring arrives.
Locals of all ages enjoy cycling, skating, and playing sports such as soccer and cricket every day.
Hunza has dozens of glaciers, all of which melt during the summer months.
The shiny dark gray liquid “Hunza water” has long been of interest to scientists. Unlike other water sources, this glacier water is naturally filtered through layers of ice and rock and contains valuable minerals.
View of Pas Glacier from Patundas, a pasture in Upper Hunza where locals bring their livestock every summer
Photo: Samantha Shea
How Hunza’s glacier water comes straight from the source
Photo: Samantha Shea
The runoff typically lasts from May to October each year, and is served in restaurants and homes during this time. Locals trust this water and prefer it to filtered water.
Almost all the meat eaten in Hunza comes from recently killed locally sourced animals.
People eat very little processed food and you will never find fast food restaurants here. Meals are usually prepared fresh at home every day, and almost every household grows some type of vegetable.
Spinach is particularly popular, and other favorites such as tomatoes and potatoes are also locally grown organically.
Neighborhood and village ties are strong, and the people of Hunza, especially the elders of the community, care for each other.
There are no nursing homes here. Elderly people are highly respected and cared for by their families.
Myself and two strong older women from the Chapursan Valley, one of the most remote areas of Hunza along the Wakhan Corridor.
Photo: Samantha Shea
With essentially zero crime, it’s safe enough for children to roam around on their own, even at a young age. This is probably one of the last places you’ll see more outdoor play than iPad play.
Having lived here for the past two years, I am happy to say that I have never had the opportunity to experience such a collective society.
Samantha Shea I’m a Polish-American travel writer from Connecticut. She lives, works and runs a business remotely in Pakistan’s Hunza Valley. Tour for women To the region.follow her her Instagram and YouTube.
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