Loquats - A Delicious Surprise
/
Loquats, or Nispero as they are called where I live, are a new-to-me fruit. Actually, we had no idea they were growing on our property until a few weeks ago. And now…I can’t get enough of them. Since I had never heard of them before, I thought I’d do a little research to find out more about these delicious little fruits, and share it on my blog.
What are Loquats?
Native to south-central China, Loquats (Eriobotrya japonica) are also known as Chinese plums, Japanese plums, nispero and nespolo but also have a number of other names depending on the region.
These small, yellow, pear-shaped fruit grow in small clusters on evergreen trees. Each loquat is about 5 centimeters long and has 1-3 smooth, brown seeds inside. These seeds can be easily removed or eaten around. Loquat fruit matures 90 days after blooming.
Growing Loquats
Loquat trees are grown in sub-tropical to mild temperate climates (USDA hardiness zones 8 and above). They can, however, grow in colder climates but may not produce fruit. .
Loquat trees can grow 5-10 meters tall and have dark green foliage. They grow best when planted in a sunny location with well draining soil. They are drought-tolerant but do fruit better when provided with regular watering, especially in their early years. If growing from a seed, loquat trees won’t produce fruit for about 10 years. Your best bet is to plant a grafted tree, which will produce fruit in only a few years.
Taste and Use
Loquat fruit are ripe and ready to enjoy when they are soft and a yellow-orange colour. They are sweet, with a touch of tartness. Taste wise, they are similar to a plum, or a apricot-plum combination. They have a soft, thin skin that can be eaten. Loquats have a relatively short shelf life, so need to be eaten quickly once picked. For slightly longer shelf live, store in fridge for about a week.
Loquats can be eaten fresh but also make great preserves. They are naturally high in pectin which makes loquat jam a perfect choice if you find yourself with an abundance of this fruit. They are also great in baking and dessert items (think crumbles or cobblers!), chutneys, added to salads or in smoothies (to name a few ideas).
Nutrition
Loquats is high in beta carotene (a precursor to vitamin A) and are a source of B vitamins, potassium, manganese, and fiber.
Loquats are a good source of pectin, a gel-forming fiber. This high pectin content can help regulate bowel movements by absorbing water and making bowel movements easier to pass. Pectin also acts as a prebiotic which helps to feed the microbes in your gut (to learn more about prebiotics read Probiotics vs. Prebiotics – What’s the difference?). There is also limited evidence that dietary pectin can help reduce high cholesterol levels but more research is needed.
