This ancient fruit (it was mentioned in Buddhist texts more than 2, 500 years ago) is much more than the stuff of desserts and trade wars.

CNN: TWO IS ENOUGH - REALLY

In the monasteries and villages of the Ladakh region of India, Buddhist lamas (priests) chant sacred texts representing the spirit, philosophy and teachings of the Buddha.

UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES

So Zhang, an ardent Buddhist, had set off along what we know as the Silk Road, to purchase original texts to bring them home for careful translation.

BBC: Following the Silk Road to the end of China