Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Loquat ( Eriobotrya japonica )


Fruit Warehouse | Loquat ( Eriobotrya japonica ) | The leaves are alternate, simple, 10-25 cm long, dark green, tough and leathery in texture, with a serrated margin, and densely velvety-hairy below with thick yellow-brown pubescence; the young leaves are also densely pubescent above, but this soon rubs off. Eriobotrya japonica is an evergreen large shrub or small tree, with a rounded crown, short trunk and Woolly new Twigs.


Loquats Among fruit trees are unusual in the flowers That Appear in the autumn or early winter, and the fruits are RIPE in late winter or early spring.  Loquat fruits, growing in clusters, are oval, rounded or pear-shaped, 3-5 cm long, with a smooth or Downy, yellow or orange, red-blushed skin Sometimes. The Succulent, Tangy flesh is white, yellow or orange and sweet to subacid or acid, depending on the cultivar. Each fruit contains five ovules, of the which one to five mature into large brown seeds.  The fruits are the Sweetest when soft and orange.


The loquat is originally from Southeastern China. Chinese immigrants are Presumed to have Carried the loquat to Hawaii. The loquat was Often Mentioned in ancient Chinese literature, Such as the poems of Li Bai.


It is eaten as a fresh fruit and mixes well with other fruits in fresh fruit salads or fruit cups. Firm, slightly immature fruits are best for making pies or tarts. Loquats can also be used to make-light wine. It is fermented into a fruit wine, Sometimes using just the white crystal sugar and liquor.


Loquat syrup is used in Chinese medicine for soothing the throat and is a popular ingredient for cough drops.


The loquat is easy to grow in subtropical to mild temperate climates where it is grown as an ornamental Often tree, and second for its delicious fruit.  There are many named cultivars, with orange or white flesh. Some cultivars are intended for home-growing, where the flowers open gradually, and Thus Spake the fruit also ripens gradually, compared to the commercially grown species where the flowers open almost simultaneously, and the whole tree's fruit also ripens together.Japan is the leading producer of loquats Followed by Israel and then Brazil.

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