Loquat. Know the medlar
Medlar Know the loquat, its properties, its health benefits, recipes … and also buy the loquat from Exotic Fruit Box, directly from the producer (farmer). Loquat or Japanese loquat is a rounded, ovoid fruit with orange-colored skin and juicy yellow-orange pulp, with a sweet, fragrant flavor. It tastes of apple or pear and it is a little sour.
To be able to taste this fruit, it must be completely fresh and ripe. It is a fruit that does not soften and remains edible even after going through a process of freezing and storage.
Medlar, whose fruits grow slowly, reaches up to 18 meters in height and has a thick, cylindrical and high trunk that grows straight and elegant. The leaves, elliptical and bright, are very decorative. Its flowers are white, small and are carried on thin peduncles at the base of the leaves. Medlar
How to store and how to eat loquat
The season for collecting and eating loquat is between the months of April and May. The loquats, once picked, must be whole and healthy, they must not have a bad appearance or smell, the skin must have a uniform and orange color, the fruit must be chosen when ripe, that is to say with firm pulp and without the fingers sinking when pressing the fruit.
It is a fruit that is eaten ripe to prevent it from having an acid taste which would be indigestible. Once the fruit has developed properly and reached its optimum point of ripeness it is adequate for transport requirements. It is very simple to peel the fruit: just pull the tail down to remove the skin.
Its consumption fresh is recommended to appreciate the flavor of the fruit and benefit from their nutritional properties. It is very rich in pectin, so it is very suitable for preparing jams and pastry products.
In order for the fruit to ripen earlier, it can be wrapped in aluminum foil and put for an hour in the freezer; the next day the fruit can be consumed as soon as possible or, if not, keep it in the least cold place of your refrigerator.
They are perfect fruits to eat fresh, although they can also be used to make jams, sauces or as an accompaniment to certain types of meat. Nutritional properties of loquat
Health benefits of loquat
Medlar stands out for its high content of pectin, which is a type of fiber that eliminates waste and toxins from our body and produces a feeling of satiety.
It is therefore a recommended fruit if you want to follow a diet. Its fiber content is effective in controlling diabetes and cholesterol. Its pulp is composed of beta-carotene containing antioxidants, thus helping to reduce the risk of cardiovascular and degenerative diseases.
It is considered a diuretic fruit thanks to its potassium and organic acid, which are ideal for people with uric acid calculus problems, high blood pressure or drop. It is a fruit rich in iron, calcium, copper and magnesium, which promotes bone health, prevents anemia and increases the production of red blood cells.
Ursolic acid and triterpenes from the leaves serve to reduce bronchial inflammation. For this reason, loquat in Japan has been used as a remedy to treat bronchitis.
Thanks to its content rich in sugars, fibers and especially carotene (which are natural antioxidants), it is recommended for pregnant women and during breastfeeding. Also, thanks to its carotene, it protects the digestive mucous membranes and helps to treat gastritis or stomach acidity.
Varieties of loquats There are two types of loquats, Japanese and Chinese. The first contains fewer seeds and has an early maturity period. Chinese loquat is characterized by its greater number of seeds and slower maturity.
The most well-known varieties that can be found on the market are the following: Algeria: this is an early variety with high productivity. The color of the skin is yellow and has no defects, the pulp has a bitter taste.
Its fruits are small. Tanaka: This variety has the longest ripening period, and needs longer sun exposure. These fruits are larger in size and have a very sweet and fragrant flavor. Golden nugget (Thales): these Japanese loquats have a rounded shape. The skin is dark orange and may have
The benefits of loquat In terms of nutritional value, loquat is considered a health food for the body due to its many benefits. There are many uses of this fruit, the fruit is used for culinary preparations, but also in herbal medicine.
Favorable to a good intestinal transit It contains a good content of water and fiber (pectin) which gives it a diuretic and laxative action, favorable to optimal intestinal health. It has an anti-inflammatory, inhibitory action, which makes it suitable for delicate stomachs.
Prevention of cardiovascular diseases Loquat contains a sizable amount of potassium which is an essential component of cells and body fluids, it helps control blood pressure and prevents heart attacks. antioxidant Its antioxidant properties make it possible to fight effectively against oxidative stress and the damage caused by free radicals, these highly reactive and toxic oxygenated derivatives.
It promotes skin hydration thanks to the beta-carotenes and carotenes present in its composition. Effective support in weight loss This fruit is a real ally in weight loss, because it acts as a detoxifier for the body and the fibers it contains provide a state of satiety.
It is strongly recommended as part of a diet to lose weight because its calorie content is very low. Diabetes prevention According to some studies, it would seem that the medlar would be able, thanks to the substances contained in this fruit, to lower blood sugar.
Nutritionist’s advice Medlar is a little-known little fruit and yet it is a real treasure trove of nutrients. Its season being short, it is a pity to deprive yourself of it as it has to bring us so much for the prevention of diabetes as for its detoxifying effect.
How to choose the medlar well? Medlar is a fruit from the tree called medlar. Medlar is a tall shrub or tree that produces fruit in late fall and early winter. Medlar is one of the first fruits of spring, but its season is very short.
In France, this fruit can only be enjoyed for a few weeks between May and June. Orange-yellow in color and oval in shape, this fleshy fruit is about 3 to 4 cm in size. His skin is smooth, and slightly downy. Its flesh is tender and slightly acidic.
