For Loquat

Source - Inspiration

We believe that the best way to start this editorial is to record below some features of this world-famous food , which is nothing else than the Loquat!

Loquat  historically originated in southeast China. Had grown in Japan for over 1000 years and today is almost everywhere around the world. Some countries where we can find Loquats are  South and Central Asia , almost all over Africa ( except  the desert )
Madagascar , Australia , New Zealand , throughout the Mediterranean area , in parts of South / Central / North America , and generally everywhere in the world with a relatively warm climate. Loquat is a fruit which is found in the spring and early  in the summer. In Greece it is known in some areas as Despoles. 

 

Nutritional value

A portion of 149 grams

• They are rich in fiber ( pectin ) as it provides 10% of the recommended daily intake. Thus, loquat have the capacity to reduce the effects of toxins in the colon , and to help protect against colon cancer.
• It is a rich source of vitamin A and provides 46% of the recommended daily intake. This high concentration of vitamin A promotes healthy skin , bone growth and teeth, protects the body from free radicals , oxidative stress and premature aging Still , Vitamin A improves eyesight and protects against cataracts and macular degeneration.
• Loquat is a good source of potassium, magnesium and vitamin B6 and provides 11% and 7% of the recommended daily intake respectively . This good amount of potassium helps to maintain normal levels of the sodium concentration . Thathas as a result blood pressure to maintain in normal levels and reduced the risk of stroke and heart attack . The content of loquat in magnesium , copper, iron, and folic acid helps to form the red blood cells (RBC). Also loquat contains vitamin C which increases the absorption capacity of iron in the body.
• They provide 70 calories. The combination of low calorieand high fiber content helps to suppress appetite and healthy weight loss .
• According to a recent study loquat beverage has the ability to significantly prevent the loss of bone density in the head , abdomen and lumbar region. Another study showed that the loquats leaf extract cause cell death in leukemia cells and prevents the spread of cancer cells. Of course , the sheets of loquats contain bio active compounds , which means that drinking tea leaves may arise side effects or interactions with drugs. For example , drinking beverage often large amount of Loquat leaf can occur toxic myopathy, a condition characterized by severe weakness .

 

Selection -  Maintenance - Use - Cultivation

Land for cultivation

• Most soils , except those that are alkaline , are suitable for Loquats. Good growing conditions produce the best growth and fruit trees. Poor soils and low water supply reduce growth tree andtypically produce fruit with good color and flavor, but with a large grain and a little flesh.

Climate

• Classified as subtropical fruit, Loquatgrown most successfully in areas that produce citrus. .For decorative purposes , they can be grown in areas too cold for citrus, but require heat to mature a crop . Fruits grown along the central coast of California rarely have good taste or color and rarely develop enough sugar content to be sweet .

  Planting

• The best option is a seedling of one year. Leave room so that the tree when fully mature have space to grow.  A  tree of 5 years is usually bushy with a height of 6-8 feet. In 10 years , it should be 12-15 feet tall and wide.

   Watering

• Regarding to watering loquats are very durable. Like most broad leafs and evergreen tree, moisture is necessary all the time, especially in the summer . In a mature tree watering should be away from the trunk. As the tree matures, do not water closer than half the distance between the shank and the outer away from the branches.  If the tree is 6-8 feet away from grass or other cultivated land, not usually require special irrigation.

How do I choose a good loquat

• Ripe loquats  have brown spots .But when  they have no scars are still unripe , but if you leave them home ripens in a few days . Loquats, if they will not be collected  in their full maturity , they lack of  good taste and smell .When we buy , they must have the stalk and have no wounds or bruises on the bark , otherwise they spoil very quickly.  They go on the market in May and found until June.  We usually find them packaged in plastic trays and because of tray΄s color they look mature and orange. So even if the loquats are immature, because of the colored  jelly, we have the impression that they have an impressive orange color. It is recommended to lift them in order   to make sure that   loquats are the way you want them .

How to preserve them

• Loquats after cutting off the tree should be eaten within a week at most, because they arevery sensitive fruits and tan quickly enough . The loquat stored refrigerated if not eaten immediately until they begin to turn brown.

How they consumed

• The loquat is eaten fresh with peeled or boiled in a light syrup .
  They fit great with other fruits , particularly apple, pear and peach , and made ​​wonderful ice cream that came with these fruits .They are also make a ​​delicious jam, jelly – jam, chutneys , and sauces for poultry with brown sugar and wine vinegar .
  The peculiarity of these fruits is that they contain no sucrose , only dextrose and fructose (those in pastry called " invert ") . This gives them the advantage of being excellent for jams , preserves , jellies and cocktails , but also to add a savory and sweet salads , which will give their own special touch .

Finally , they can be used for cooking white and red meat and to prepare some sweet and chilli sauce , chutney type  or achard.

But beware ! Do not allow children to munch the seeds of loquits : their hydrocyanic acid content makes them toxic to children , but also dangerous if swallowed .

 

 

 

 

There are more than 800 varieties in the East. 46  more or less significant placed is Japan. Over 15 species have their roots in Algeria. At least 8 species are in cultivation in California , 5 or 6 have been selected in Italy and only one variety in Florida . A variety that is widely spread is classified either as " Chinese " or " Japanese " . In Chinese group , trees have narrow leaves , fruit is pear-shaped or nearly round thick orange skin and dark orange flesh is very juicy and have a sour taste .   Some of the varieties

'Advance' (Japanese group)–A seedling selected by C. P. Taft in California in 1897. Fruit is borne in large clusters; pear-shaped to elliptic-round; of medium to large size; skin downy, yellow, thick and tough; flesh thick, cream-colored, juicy, subacid, of excellent flavor. Seeds of medium size, may be as many as 4 or 5; average is 3.20 per fruit. A late cultivar though it ripens earlier than 'Champagne' which it other-wise closely resembles. Tree is a natural dwarf, to a little over 5 ft (1.58 m); is highly resistant to pear blight. Self-infertile; a good pollinator for other cultivars. It is interplanted with 'Golden Yellow' and 'Pale Yellow' in India.

'Ahdar' (Lebanese; grown in India)–oval, of medium size; greenish-yellow with white flesh; bears moderately; late-ripening; of poor keeping quality.

'Ahmar' (Lebanese; grown in India)–pear-shaped, large, with reddish-orange skin; yellow flesh, firm, juicy; early ripening; of good keeping quality. A leading cultivar in Lebanon. Very precocious. Self-infertile.

'Akko 1' or 'Acco 1' (of Japanese origin)–long-oval to pear-shaped, 20 to 25 g in weight; skin orange with a little russeting, thick; flesh yellow, juicy, of average flavor, and there are 3 or 4 seeds. Ripens in midseason, beginning in mid-April in Israel where it constitutes 10 to 20% of commercial plantings. Precocious and a good bearer; sets 20 to 30 fruits per cluster and requires drastic thinning, leaving about 6 fruits. Fruit is subject to sunburn. Stands harvesting and shipping well, keeps in good condition less than 2 weeks under refrigeration. This cultivar is self-fertile.

'Akko 13' or 'Acco 13' (of Japanese origin)–pear-shaped, 20 to 25 g in weight; dark-orange, with no russeting; flesh yellow, juicy, with acid, agreeable flavor; 2 or 3 seeds. Bears from end of March through April in Israel, regularly and abundantly; constitutes 50 to 70% of commercial plantings in Israel; of good handling and keeping quality; stands transportation for 2 weeks at 32°F (0°C). Fruit is subject to sunburn. Needs cross-pollination.

'Asfar' (Lebanese, grown in India)–oval, smaller than 'Ahmar', with yellow skin and flesh, very juicy, of superior flavor, but very perishable.

'Blush' ('Red Blush') -Resembles 'Advance' but is very large. Was selected by C.P. Taft as being immune to blight, but was abandoned after 'Advance' proved to be highly blight-resistant.

'Champagne' (Japanese), often misidentified as 'Early Red'. Selected and introduced into cultivation in California by C. P. Taft around 1908. Elongated pear-shaped, often oblique; small to large (depending on where it is grown); skin pale-golden to deep-yellow, thick, tough, astringent; flesh white or yellow, soft, juicy, mild and subacid to sweet; of excellent flavor. There are 3 to 5 seeds. Midseason to late. Prolific; fruits borne in large clusters. Perishable; good for preserving. Tree has long, narrow, pointed leaves; is self -infertile.

'Early Red' (Japanese); originated by Taft in 1909. Obliquely pear-shaped; medium-large; skin orange-red with white dots, thick, tough, acid; flesh orange, very juicy, sweet, of fair to excellent flavor; has 2 or 3 seeds. Earliest in season, often appearing on California markets at the end of January or in the beginning of February. Borne in compact clusters.

'Eulalia' (a seedling of 'Advance' selected by M. Payan in California in 1905)–pear-shaped to obovate -pear-shaped; skin faintly downy, orange-yellow with red blush and pale gray dots, thick, tough; flesh pinkish or orange, melting, soft, very juicy; subacid in flavor. Seeds medium in size, numerous. Early in season.

'Fire Ball' (popular in India)–ovate to ovate-elliptic; small, with yellow, thick skin; flesh white to straw-colored, thick, crisp, smooth, of mild, subacid flavor. Seeds are large: average 2.90 per fruit. Midseason. Tree is a natural dwarf to 9.5 ft (2.84 in).

'Glenorie Superb' (grown in Western Australia)–round, large, dark-orange with yellow flesh which is juicy and sweet. Somewhat late in season. Inclined to bruise during harvesting.

'Golden Red' (grown in California)–flesh pale-orange, medium-thick, smooth, melting, of subacid, agreeable taste; few seeded. Midseason.

'Golden Yellow' (grown in India)–ovate-elliptic; of medium size; skin orange-yellow; flesh pale-orange, medium-thick, soft, smooth, with subacid, mild flavor. Seeds of medium size; average 4.83 per fruit.

'Golden Ziad' (#2-6) (grown in Egypt)–dark-yellow to light-orange; up to 1 1/2 in (3.96 cm) long; average number of seeds, 2.93-3.83 per fruit. Early. High-Yielding; 50 lbs (23.5 kg) per tree.

'Herd's Mammoth' (grown in Western Australia)–long and slightly tapering at the stem end; large; yellow to orange with white to cream-colored flesh. Ripens earlier than 'Victory'. Subject to black spot; not often planted.

'Improved Golden Yellow' (grown in India)–ovate-elliptic; skin orange-yellow; flesh orange-yellow, thick, crisp, smooth, with subacid to sweet, mild flavor. Seeds large; average 3.06 per fruit. Tree to 15 ft (4.49 in). Early.

'Improved Pale Yellow' (grown in India)–flesh pale-orange or cream-colored, firm or soft, smooth, of subacid, pleasant flavor, with medium number of seeds. Midseason.

'Kusunoki' (grown in Japan)–small; early.

'Large Agra' (grown in India)–ovate-round; of medium size; skin deep-yellow; flesh yellow or pale-orange, medium thick, smooth, firm, of pleasant flavor, fairly sweet. Seeds small; average 5.10 per fruit. Midseason. Tree a medium-dwarf–to 9 1/2 ft (2.83 in).

'Large Round' (grown in India)–ovate-round; of medium size; yellow of skin with cream-colored flesh, firm, coarse, subacid to sweet, mild. Seeds of medium size; average 4.80 per fruit. Midseason. Tree fairly tall–13 ft. (3.92 in).

'Maamora Golden Yellow' (#7-9) (grown in Egypt)–dark-yellow to light-orange; to 1 1/2 in (3.91 cm long); seeds average 2.40 to 4.03 per fruit; late in season. High-yielding–44 lbs (20 kg) per tree.

'Mammoth' (grown in Australia; mentioned in California in 1889)–flesh orange, medium thick, granular, coarse, of subacid, agreeable flavor. Midseason.

'Matchless' (grown in India) pear shaped; flesh medium-thick, pale-orange, smooth, soft, of mild, subacid flavor; medium number of seeds. Midseason.

'Mizuho' (grown in Japan)–rounded-oval; extra large (70-120 g); juicy, with agreeable, slightly acid though also sweet flavor, and with 5 or more seeds. Subject to fruit spots and sunburn.

'Mogi' (grown in Japan)–elliptical, light-yellow; small (40-50 g); Ripens in early spring. Tree is cold sensitive. Self-fertile. Constitutes 60% of the Japanese crop of loquats.

'Obusa' (a hybrid of 'Tanaka' and 'Kusonoki', developed and grown in Japan)–deep yellow, very large (80-100 g); of medium flavor; good keeping and shipping quality. Ripens earlier than Tanaka. Tree bears regularly and is resistant to insects and diseases, but fruit is subject to sunburn (purple stains on skin).

'Oliver' ('Olivier' × 'Tanaka'). In the past was considered the best loquat for southern Florida.

'Pale Yellow' (grown in India)–oblique -elliptic to round; light yellow, large; flesh white or cream-colored, thin, smooth, melting, of subacid to sweet flavor; seeds large; average 4.8 per fruit. Early. Tree is fairly tall–to 13 ft (4 in).

'Pineapple' (developed and introduced into cultivation in California by Taft in 1899)–round or sometimes pear-shaped; light-yellow with white flesh. Of good quality but inferior to 'Champagne'. Abandoned in California because of the weakness of the tree.

'Precoce de Itaquera' (erroneously called 'Tanaka'; grown in Brazil; believed to be a local selection of 'Mogi')–oval-pear-shaped; deep-orange; very small (25.3-29.1 g). Flesh is firm and acid-sweet. Very productive: 1,500 to 2,000 fruits per tree annually. Subject to sunburn (purple stains on skin) but less so than 'Mizuho'. Was for a long time the leading cultivar in the State of Sao Paulo but has lost ground to 'Mizuho' even though a pear-shaped fruit is preferred by consumers, because it does not keep or ship as well as the 'Mizuho', which now makes up 65% of the plantings and 'Precoce de Itaquera' 35%.

'Premier' (originated by Taft in California in 1899)–oval to oblong-pear-shaped; large; skin downy, orange-yellow to salmon-orange with large white dots; medium-thick, tough; flesh whitish, melting, juicy, subacid, of agreeable flavor; seeds average 4 or 5 per fruit. Late. Good for dooryards. Does not ship well, nor keep well.

'Safeda' (grown in India)–flesh is cream-colored, thick, smooth and melting, of subacid, excellent flavor; contains medium number of seeds. Early to midseason.

'Saint Michel' (unclassified; grown in Israel)–round but has the thin skin and white flesh of the Japanese group. Ripens late. Self-infertile.

'Swell's Enormity' (grown in Western Australia)–pear-shaped, very large; deep apricot-colored externally with flesh of the same color. Acid if harvested too early. Very late in season. Subject to sunburn in hot weather.

'Tanaka' (Chinese group; a seedling originated in Japan; young trees introduced by the United States Department of Agriculture in 1902; widely grown)–ovoid or round; large (70-80 g) in Japan; in some other areas small (30 g); skin orange or orange-yellow; flesh brownish-orange, medium thick, coarse, firm, juicy, sweet or subacid, of excellent taste. There may be 2 to 4 seeds; average 2.70 per fruit. Ripens late–beginning the first of May, which is too late for California because of susceptibility to sunburn. The tree is of medium size-nearly 10 ft (2.98 m); precocious; bears regularly; is self-fertile to a degree. Constitutes 10% of commercial crop in Israel; 35% of the crop in Japan. Highly cold-tolerant.

'Thales', also known as 'Gold Nugget' and 'Placentia', (Chinese group; very similar to 'Tanaka' and possibly a clone. Introduced from Japan and planted at Placentia, California, between 1880 and 1900)–oblong-obovate to round, large, skin orange-yellow with numerous white dots, tough; flesh, orange, thick, firm, juicy, of sweet, apricot-like flavor. There are 2 to 4 seeds. Late in season. Fruits borne only a few to a cluster; keep and ship well. Self-fertile.

'Thames Pride' (grown in India)–ovate-elliptic, of medium size or sometimes large; pale-orange or deep-yellow with cream colored or pale-orange, juicy, coarse, somewhat granular flesh of subacid flavor; moderately seedy; average 3.20 seeds per fruit. Early in season. Tree tall, to 13 1/2 ft (4.19 m). Bears heavily. This cultivar is grown and canned commercially.

'Tsrifin 8' (grown in Israel)–rounded pear-shaped; 25 to 30 g in weight; yellow-orange with some russeting. Of excellent quality with good acid and sugar content. Stands handling. shipping and storage well. Late–mid-April to mid-May. Precocious, bears regularly and abundantly but is subject to sunburn. Constitutes 10% of Israeli plantings.

'Victor' (originated by C.P. Taft in 1899)–oblong-pear-shaped; large; skin deep-yellow, medium-thick, tough. Flesh whitish, translucent, melting, very juicy, of sweet, mild flavor. There may be 3 to 5 seeds. Very late; too late for California. Good for canning.

'Victory' (the most popular cultivar in West Australia)–oval, large, yellow to orange, becoming amber on the sunny side. Flesh is white to cream-colored, juicy, sweet. Midseason to occasionally early.

'Wolfe', (S.E.S. #4) (a seedling of 'Advance' selected and named at the Agricultural Research and Education Center of the University of Florida in Homestead, and released in 1966)–obovoid to slightly pear-shaped; 1 3/4 to 2 in (4.5-5 cm) long and 1 to 1 1/4 in (2.5-3.2 cm) wide; yellow with fairly thick skin and pale-yellow, thick, firm, juicy flesh of excellent flavor, acid but also sweet when tree-ripe; has 1 to 5 seeds (usually 1 to 3). Tree reaches 25 ft (7.5 in) and bears well nearly every year,

 

References