The Miracle Fruit that is the Loquat

In case you don't know what a loquat is...well.. you haven't lived. I just discovered them last year. They're AMAZING. They are a plum sized orange / yellow fruit that grows on trees.

Flavor
Their flavor varies throughout the season, but the "freshly ripe" ones are slightly tart with (to me) a green grape / apple / apricot type taste and grape-ish texture. The middle ripe ones are sweeter with a balance between the tart and sweet and the past-prime are just super sweet.

Important Note:
Loquats have large seeds inside - the number varies - I've seen one and up to three. They are like apricot seeds or very large apple seeds, but the main point is, like apricot seeds... DON'T EAT them - they're poisonous.


How to Eat:
Also, to eat a loquat properly, you peal the outer skin and nibble around the seed.

Loquat Season is Here!!!

Yay!!!! All last spring, I cajoled my (then) very strong willed 2 yr old into early evening walks with me by enticing her with the prospect of getting some delicious loquats from neighborhood trees (there are three fruiting, quasi-public domain trees on our block alone).

Today, we had our first loquats of the season. Perfection!

My toddler son had his first taste and is hooked and I have a new incentive for my (now) very strong willed 3 yr old to take after dinner strolls with me!