How about a discussion about discovering new fruits to eat? Our markets are becoming multi-national with more opportunities to go beyond the apple and bananas. Here is my short list of fruit I have had that I have enjoyed:
Japanese "Biwa." Pronounced beewaa. Wiki says it is a form of loquat. Here is what it looks like:
I first had this as desert in a Japanese restaurant in Tokyo. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Of course, the quality of fruit in Japan is well above the rest of the world so perhaps biwa doesn't taste like heaven . But to this day, I remember the sweat and flavorful fruit I enjoyed there.
I have since had Biwa in China but have never looked for it in US.
Sweet Persian Lemons. Persian name is "Limoo Shirin" which translates into well, sweet lemon . It is a citrus unlike anything we have in the west. Here is a nice write-up on it: http://mypersiankitchen.com/limoo-shirin-sweet-persian-lemon/
And some nice images:
Wiki says it is part of Meyer Lemon family but I am not sure. If you live in major metropolitan areas, search for a persian grocery store and you should find them now as they are in season. The best ones have thin skin, are very juicy, and sweet with a nice citrus aroma. As the article says above, it has tiny bit of bitter aftertaste like grapefruit so you don't want to juice it and let it sit. I simply cut it with a knife into quarters and suck the juice out like you would with a sour lemon from your drink.
You can peel it and eat it like an orange but by then it might become bitter.
I should say that I have not been able to convince anyone in my family to try it .
Let me stop here and see if others have any fruits they think others would enjoy.
Japanese "Biwa." Pronounced beewaa. Wiki says it is a form of loquat. Here is what it looks like:
I first had this as desert in a Japanese restaurant in Tokyo. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Of course, the quality of fruit in Japan is well above the rest of the world so perhaps biwa doesn't taste like heaven . But to this day, I remember the sweat and flavorful fruit I enjoyed there.
I have since had Biwa in China but have never looked for it in US.
Sweet Persian Lemons. Persian name is "Limoo Shirin" which translates into well, sweet lemon . It is a citrus unlike anything we have in the west. Here is a nice write-up on it: http://mypersiankitchen.com/limoo-shirin-sweet-persian-lemon/
And some nice images:
Wiki says it is part of Meyer Lemon family but I am not sure. If you live in major metropolitan areas, search for a persian grocery store and you should find them now as they are in season. The best ones have thin skin, are very juicy, and sweet with a nice citrus aroma. As the article says above, it has tiny bit of bitter aftertaste like grapefruit so you don't want to juice it and let it sit. I simply cut it with a knife into quarters and suck the juice out like you would with a sour lemon from your drink.
You can peel it and eat it like an orange but by then it might become bitter.
I should say that I have not been able to convince anyone in my family to try it .
Let me stop here and see if others have any fruits they think others would enjoy.