Back from a recent trip to Portugal, my parents brought me a great surprise - Nesperas! You may, or may not know what they are, so here’s the low down on this delicious fruit…
Nesperas, also known as Loquat or Japanese Plums, are a very common fruit in Portugal at this time of year. They are are oval, rounded or pear-shaped, 3-5 cm long with a smooth or downy, yellow or orange, sometimes red-blushed skin.
Nesperas have succulent, tangy flesh which is white, yellow or orange. They are sweet and slightly tart. They taste like nothing else, so I can not compare them to anything except a cross between apricots and grapes!
According to Wikipedia; “The loquat is comparable to the apricot in many aspects, with a high sugar, acid and pectin content. 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. The fruits are also commonly used to make jam, jelly, and chutney, and are delicious poached in light syrup.”
I have only ever eaten them fresh, never in a jam or chutney but it’s definitely worth a try! Although, I have precious few right now and I plan to eat them straight away, fresh and delicious!
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