White Peach

Name: White peach — peaches (Prunus persica) whose flesh is pale cream to white rather than yellow-orange. Many varieties exist, and Asian types such as Chinese honey peaches and Japanese hakuto are especially well known. White nectarines also exist.

Description

White-fleshed peaches have been prized in China and Japan for centuries, where they are generally preferred to yellow peaches, valued for their delicate sweetness and fragrance. They are naturally lower in acid than yellow-fleshed peaches, which makes them taste especially sweet and gentle, although they are no lower in sugar.

White peaches are generally more delicate, bruise easily and do not keep as long as yellow peaches, which is one reason yellow types dominate canning and long-distance trade in the West. In the Mediterranean region and North America, white peaches have become increasingly popular at farmers' markets and in specialist shops.

Main nutrition value

White peaches provide vitamin C, potassium and fibre, with fewer carotenoid pigments than yellow peaches, and a sweet, floral flavour.

How best to be consumed

White peaches are best eaten fresh, fully ripe, and handled gently.

1. Eat fresh when fragrant and slightly soft, after a gentle rinse.
2. Slice into salads with soft cheese or fresh herbs, or add to sparkling drinks.
3. Make Italian bellini cocktails, where white peach puree is traditional.
4. Bake or grill lightly, since their delicate flavour can be lost in strong spices.
5. Store ripe fruit in a single layer in the fridge and eat within a couple of days.

Overconsumption could cause…

White peaches are safe in ordinary amounts, with the same points as other peaches.

1. Allergic reactions, such as an itchy mouth, in people sensitive to peaches or birch pollen.
2. Digestive discomfort from a large quantity at once.
3. Danger from the stone's kernel, which can release cyanide, so pits should never be cracked or eaten.
4. Added sugar adding up in sweetened drinks and desserts.

GroupsStone FruitsRose family (Rosaceae)Fresh

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Wikipedia — Peach, used for origin, naming and history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peach