Produce Briefs...
Orange Honeydew Melon
Oval-to-round and a delicious cross between a cantaloupe and a honeydew, the very fleshy juicy orangish-yellow pulp of the orange honeydew melon is encased in a hard very yellow matching rind.
Iceberg Lettuce
It is the only lettuce type that does not occur in red form as well as green. Iceberg is the given name to dozens of cultivars of lettuce, all of which are adapted to specific planting regions and time periods.
Seasons/Availability
Waxberries are only available for a few weeks between late spring and early summer.
Current Facts
Waxberry, also know as yang-mei grows on evergreen trees known as Myrica rubra. It is a relative of the bayberry, a tree grown in the United States whose fruit is used mainly for making candles. While fresh waxberries are not currently grown or sold in the United States the juice of the waxberry has recently made its way to markets across the country and is sold under the name, Yumberry.
Description/Taste
The waxberry is round and covered in a deep red to purple hued, knobby exterior similar to that of a lychee. Its interior flesh is soft and juicy with a color slightly lighter than that of its exterior. Its succulent flesh has a sweet tart flavor and contains a single seed in the center of the fruit. Both the skin and flesh of the waxberry is edible.
Nutritional Value
The waxberry is high in vitamins C and E and contains riboflavin, thiamine and carotene. They are also being touted as the next big ¡°super fruit¡± due to their high content of antioxidants.
Applications
Waxberries are great enjoyed fresh out of hand but can also be used in a number of cooked and raw preparations, both savory and sweet. They can be baked into pies and tarts or cooked down to make sauces and preserves. Add to salads, stews and soups. Excellent in sweet preparations they can be used in ice creams, sorbets and smoothies. Waxberries are also commonly used to make juices, wines and other infused beverages. For best flavor waxberries should be consumed within one week of being picked.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
In China waxberries have long been used for medicinal purposes and are touted for their ability to help alleviate pain, promote healthy digestion, as an anti-inflammatory and in prevention of certain types of cancer. They are also prized in China for their ability to help prevent wrinkles and keep skin looking young.
Geography/History
Waxberries are native to China where they have been cultivated for over 2000 years, though records indicate the fruit may have been harvested as far back as 5000 B.C. Waxberries thrive in the humid subtropical regions of China, in particular between Shanghai and Hainan. Currently there are over 865,000 acres devoted to growing waxberries in China. A small amount of the fruit is shipped to Europe with most of the supply remaining in China. Growing waxberries is currently prohibited in the United States in effort to prevent the spread of fruit insects.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Waxberry. One
is easiest, three is harder.| meishiChina |
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杨梅手剥笋 |
| meishiChina |
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自制杨梅酒 |
Recently Spotted
People have spotted Waxberry using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
Produce Spotting allows you to share your produce discoveries with your neighbors and the world! Is your market carrying green dragon apples? Is a chef doing things with shaved fennel that are out of this world? Pinpoint your location annonymously through the Specialty Produce App and let others know about unique flavors that are around them.
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Jia hua Fruiterer NO127 Xingan Road Near Shanghai, Shanghai, China About 3 days ago Spotter's comments : Waxberries are from Zhejiang Province . Fresh Mart Near Shanghai, Shanghai, China About 6 days ago Spotter's comments : Fresh waxberries are from Zhejiang province . Fresh Mart Near Shanghai, Shanghai, China About 21 days ago Spotter's comments : Fresh wax berries are available .Too early ...not big ,small but fresh. Nobu Restaurant Caesars Palace Near Las Vegas, Nevada, United States About 91 days ago |
