Loquat

Also known asJapanese Plum · Biwa · Eriobotrya japonica · 枇杷

Name: Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica). Also called Japanese medlar or Japanese plum in some regions — despite the name, it is not the same fruit as the true medlar (Mespilus germanica), a distinct and unrelated species.

Description

The loquat is a small evergreen tree in the rose family, native to central eastern China, that reached Japan over a thousand years ago and was developed there into the superior varieties that later spread to the Mediterranean and other subtropical regions. It bears clusters of fragrant white flowers that give way to yellow-to-bronze, pear-shaped fruit with a tough skin and juicy flesh around several large seeds.

Today loquat trees are grown commercially on a modest scale across many subtropical climates, and just as often planted purely for looks, since the glossy evergreen foliage and early flowering make them a popular ornamental in parks and gardens. The fruit itself has a tart, faintly plum-like flavor and ripens in spring, earlier than most other tree fruit.

Main nutrition value

Per 100g, raw loquat:

Loquats stand out for vitamin A — well above most other pome fruits — along with a good amount of potassium, manganese, and fiber.

How best to be consumed

Loquats are best eaten fresh, chilled, and peeled, with the large seeds and their surrounding membrane removed before eating. Their tart-sweet flavor works well on its own or in fruit salads, and they can also be poached, stewed, or made into jam, which mellows their tartness.

Overconsumption could cause…

Loquat flesh is safe to eat in normal amounts, but the seeds and leaves contain compounds that can release cyanide and should not be eaten or brewed into large quantities of tea. Eating a lot of the fruit at once can cause mild stomach upset from its fiber and acidity, and, as with other tree fruit with large pits or seeds, the seeds pose a choking hazard if swallowed whole.

GroupsApples and PearsTropical FruitsRose family (Rosaceae)Low fatLow sodiumFresh

Related foodsAppleAsian Pear / Nashi PearPearQuinceGreen AppleRed Apple

U.S. Department of Agriculture, FoodData Central — Loquats, raw (FDC ID 169908), 100g portion: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/169908/nutrients Encyclopaedia Britannica — loquat (tree and fruit): https://www.britannica.com/plant/loquat