WHAT IS PERSIAN LAMB?

Persian lamb is the name of lambskins taken from karakul sheep. The karakul is a fat tailed sheep from which we get beautiful fleeces called broadtail and caracul as well as Persian lamb.

Young karakul lambs have a silky fleece, which is usually black in color. But occasionally it is brown, tan or gray. The fleece has a high luster and is often curled until the fifth day after the lamb's birth.

In the market, lambskins are sold either as broadtail, Persian lamb (which was formerly called astrakhan) and caracul. Broadtail is the most expensive. It has a silky, rippled appearance and usually comes from lambs that were born too soon.

Persian lamb is the tightly curled pelt of lambs from 3 to 10 days old.

Caracul is the wavy fur of lambs not older than two months.

Most of the skins of the karakul sheep are produced in central and southwestern Asia, India, southwestern Africa and southeastern Europe.