Nespole del Giappone

A popular fruit in Italy, the loquat is available during the spring and summer. The tree has long and distinctive dark-green leaves that make it popular in the gardens of the coastal regions, and there is some commercial cultivation of the fruit in Campania, Calabria, Sicily, Puglia and Sardinia. The loquat can be oval or round, depending on the variety, and is pale orange, with a very smooth, thick skin that peels easily when the fruit is ripe. Its flesh is extremely juicy and sweet, but with enough acidity to lift the flavour. It is a very pleasant fruit to eat on its own, but can also be used to make jam and sorbet.