Loquat or Apricot Tart

The loquat, usually called “Japanese plum” in Charleston, is a common tree of dooryards and gardens in the Lowcountry. Most of the trees have been cultivated from unimproved seedlings in this century as ornamentals; the fruits are undersized and full of the large seeds. The juicy, firm texture of the fruits, which resemble apricots, makes them a local favorite, particularly eaten out of hand.

The season for the ripe fruit (and it must, indeed, be ripe to softness to be edible) is br