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I’ve been visiting gnoegnoe’s blog for a while now and was inspired by her lovely pictures of fruit and veg. Every week she posts a feast for the eyes. I recommend that you check it out. This connoisseur of legumes is also a very articulate book reviewer. Books and food go SO well together. I always feel hungry and up for a bit of a read after I’ve checked out her latest posts.
So without further ado, here are pictures of ‘Flat Peaches’.
They’re just like normal peaches, but a little sweeter (and flatter). I thought they looked adorable. They come all the way from China where they are popular. Apparently this type has been around for centuries in the Far East, so it’s not one of those genetically-modified fruits.
I’m so impressed with them, that I’ve saved the stones for planting. Once they dry out I’m going to see if they’ll grow for me. I’d like to have a tree like this in my garden.
Is there any strange fruit you’ve come across recently? Or any you’d like to try? I want to have a go at jackfruit ever since I read about it in ‘The God of Small Things’.
Oh wow! I just discovered these peaches this summer – and also blogged about them! In fact I posted a photo of them with my summer issue of Granta, no. 111, and though it was the book that I was recommending, several people mentioned that they had gone out and bought the peaches because of it.
My greengrocer told me they came from Italy. They’re so delicious aren’t they, with their white flesh? She (my greengrocer) also said that they were called ‘donut peaches’. I went back every week to buy them all through the summer but she doesn’t have them now. I kept trying to engage her in conversation about how delicious they are, so maybe she stopped ordering them so I wouldn’t stand in her shop and drone on about them.
The most unusual fruit I have ever had – just because I have never seen it even in food stalls in Chinatown or Brixton or anywhere else that specialises in importing food I never saw when I was a child – is the salak. It’s a small, apricot-sized fruit with a chestnut brown snakeskin-like skin. The fruit tastes like a mixture between a walnut and an apple. I had it in Indonesia.
Have you ever come across durian? They look like jackfruit and the experience of tasting the flesh has been described (I think I read it in the Lonely Planet, actually) as like eating custard over an open sewer. I had durian fritters once by mistake. Other than that, I haven’t tasted them, only smelled them as they were being transported on long bus journeys in Thailand and Malaysia, where they’re very popular.
I too saw this funny peach and took a picture of it when I bought it from the UK supermarkets. I have no idea they came from China!
I left a note in your comment on my blog:
There are another two of Greene’s books on the 1001 list: Brighton Rock and Honourary Counsel (the 2010 version of 1001 list). Graham Greene Rocks!
So hope you get to read them soon!
Helen – I have to look at your blog entry. We must compare fruits lol. I suppose they grow very well in Italy, it has a nice climate, but I googled it on the web and it said they originate from China. Ohhh… I got my flat peaches at Morrisons! I’ve only seen them twice mind you. Maybe they have a season, that’s why you couldn’t find it at your greengrocers.
Wow, salak sounds weird! I can’t imagine anything tasting like walnut/apple. Yes, I’ve heard of Durian. They stink to high hell. But it’s the skin that’s smelly. Once you peel it or something it’s supposed to taste wonderful. Gosh, what a fruit!
JoV – Ahh, more people know the flat peach! Excellent. I’ll look out for those titles. I’m not working from the 2010 list at the moment. I’ve got to switch at some point. I feel like I’m missing out.
I’ve never seen flat peaches. I grew up on a farm with peach orchards in addition to other kinds of goodies, like almonds, walnuts, etc.
But the closest to flat peaches would be the ones that fell on the ground and got squished…lol.
Lol! They would be flat peaches indeed! You’re so lucky to have grown up on a farm. We have a walnut tree in our back garden and we’ve begun picking the ones that fall on the ground every morning. It’s great for christmas, because everyone goes out to buy a handful of walnuts at the supermarket when we’ve got a crateful at home.
I hope you get to sample these exotic shaped fruit. They are very tasty indeed and great for kids – doesn’t take up room in the lunchbox!
This just reminded me of the lychees I bought. I’ve never been a fond of peaches but these look so delightfully weird I’d eat them. Have you ever had mangosteen? I’ve heard so much good stuff about it but unfortunately have not had the chance to try them out.
Flat peaches hmm learned something new today. Hope your sore throat doesn’t turn into a monster, and I also hope you get a chance to see Depp. Have a great week.
DBS – I tried lychees once. I didn’t like them. Can’t remember why though, they look really nice. Oh yeah, it felt like I had an eyeball in my mouth. Mangosteen, isn’t that similar to a mango, maybe a different type? I’ve tried passionfruit and it wasn’t as great as people made it out to be. Smelled gorgeous, but had too many pips. What I really like are prickly pears. Nice and cold from the fridge, and sharon fruit. Yum.
Hi Jan – Thanks for dropping by. I hope so too, nad a great reading week!
Aw Zee, you’re TOO sweet! Sorry I took a while to get back here (cat trouble), but I hadn’t forgotten you!
Thanks for the info on these lovely peaches. This summer I saw (& tasted!) them for the first time in my life too. Of ourse I even love ‘em more for their bento size! Hehe.