Wondering what on earth the above photograph depicts?
Like the title of this post didn’t give it away. It’s a loquat. The tree originated in China and eventually became naturalized in Japan – which is still the leading producer of loquats. They are grown in backyards throughout California, and this was my absolute favorite fruit from my parents’ orchard.
I was surprised to see a great big pile of loquats at the local farmer’s market last week and picked up a basket to indulge in nostalgia. They’re a very citrus-like fruit: sweet just under the peel and shockingly tart by the seeds. They’d make a great chutney, but I think they’re better fresh.
Wikipedia claims that when eaten in quaity, loquats may act as a sedative. I wonder … if that’s true….
….zzzzzzz.
IMAGE CREDIT
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Eriobotrya_japonica2.jpg, Photograph dated 04/16/05 uploaded by Oldie under GFDL.
You know, they’re not sweet when I eat them, but maybe it’s cos I’m not nibbling just under the peel. I just eat the whole thing and then suffer the gravitational pull of a black hole when my mouth tries to turn inside out from the tartosity.