PSA: Loquat session in full swing
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All the loquat trees around town are loaded with fruit. If you’re in Florida, look for trees.
They’re really a hidden treasure. They grow like weeds and the flowers are unattractive, so most people ignore the fruit on them. They’re delicious, though, like sweet apricots. There are several varieties around town that I’ve gotten to try, and I found out the fuzzier the average fruit on the tree, the sweeter it is (kind of like peaches and nectarines). Also, the more orange the fruit, the sweeter it is, too.
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If you homebrew they make a great wine or melomel.
Our loquats are already gone
The tree out back doesn’t produce many and they fell off/got eaten 3 weeks ago.
@jaybird Well, on the bright side, you’ll probably have a lot more trees in coming years. A lot of the loquat trees around here weren’t planted by humans; they just grew where an animal dropped the seed.
You do have to pick loquats quick. Squirrels love them, and ripe ones seem to be wasps’ favorite place to lay eggs. Pick all the ripest ones you can eat, then come back for another pass later.
This was the first year I ate some without peeling them. I didn’t die so i guess the skin is edible.
@jaybird Yeah, like a peach. The only reason to peel it is if you don’t like the texture. Loquats are really time-consuming to peel, though, since they’re so small. You’re left with an smaller fruit if you do that. Best just to pop them in your mouth and spit out the seeds, like a cherry.
No one around me has loquat trees. I remember eating them (and throwing them at friends) as a kid.