Fruits Lemon to Quince
Lemon
Citrus limon
Description
A yellow ovoid fruit with a pointed tip and a shiny, hard rind. One of the most versatile of fruits.
Thought to have originated in eastern Asia, introduced to Britain by the Crusaders and first recorded growing in England In 1577.
Use
Wash and dry. If the rind is to be used then organically grown fruits are recommended. The rind can be thinly peeled or grated as called for by recipes, or added to provide colour and flavour to hot and cold drinks. It can be juiced, which can then be added to drinks, soups, sauces, marinades or added to a wide range of sweet and savoury dishes. It can be segmented or sliced and used as a garnish or added to drinks. Can be used to make marmalade and in preserves.
Lime
Citrus aurantifloria
Description
A small citrus fruit with a dark green rind and a tart flavour.
Thought to be native to India or China. They were taken aboard sailing ships from the 15th century to prevent scurvy, hence the nickname 'Limies'.
Use
Wash and dry. If the rind is to be used then organically grown fruits are recommended. The rind can be thinly peeled or grated as called for by recipes, or added to provide colour and flavour to hot and cold drinks. It can be juiced, which can then be added to drinks, soups, sauces, marinades or added to a wide range of sweet and savoury dishes. It can be segmented or sliced and used as a garnish or added to drinks. Can be used to make marmalade and in preserves.
Loganberry
Rubus
Description
A hybrid of the blackberry and raspberry, resembling a large raspberry, accidentally developed by Scotsman J H Logan in California in 1881, first exhibited in England in 1897.
Use
Remove the stem and rinse in a colander, drain well . Use fresh in fruit salads cream or ice cream. Can be cooked in pies and tarts. Can be pureed and added to ice cream, sorbets and drinks. Can be used to make jams and preserves.
Mango
Mangifera indica
Description
A plump stoned fruit with a green to yellow skin, succulent. juicy pale orange flesh.
Thought to be originally native to India or Burma, it is one of the earliest known fruits.
Use
Wash and dry. It can be eaten whole or cut in half or segmented. Add to fruit salads, it can be pureed and added to sorbets and ice creams. Can be used to make chutneys and preserves.
Medlar
Mespilus germanica
Description
A small fruit somewhat similar to an apple in appearance, a member of the rose family.
Native to Europe, it became popular in the Victorian era.
Use
Wash and dry. It can be eaten whole or pureed and added to sorbets and ice creams. Can be used to make chutneys and preserves.
Mulberry
Morus nigra
Description
A deep purple, shiny juicy fruit.
Thought to be originally native to Persia (Iran), first introduced to Britain in the 14th century where the leaves of the tree were used to feed silk worms.
Use
Remove the stem and rinse in a colander, drain well . Use fresh in fruit salads cream or ice cream. Can be cooked in pies and tarts. Can be pureed and added to ice cream, sorbets and drinks. Can be used to make jams and preserves.
Nectarine
Prunus persica
Description
Similar in shape and colour to a peach but with a shiny skin, a member of the rose family.
Native to China, introduced to Britain through Persia in the 16th century.
Use
Wash and dry. Leave whole and can be poached or stewed or used in pies, tarts, puddings, sauces, ice cream or sorbets. Can also be used as a alternate to peaches.
Orange
Citrus sinesis
Description
A juicy fruit with an orange skin and juicy flesh.
Thought to be originally native to China, they were taken aboard sailing ships from the 15th century to prevent scurvy.
Use
Wash and dry. If the rind is to be used then organically grown fruits are recommended. The rind can be thinly peeled or grated as called for by recipes, or added to provide colour and flavour to hot and cold drinks. Can be cut or left whole and eaten as a dessert fruit. It can be juiced, which can then be added to cakes, biscuits, puddings, drinks, soups, sauces, marinades or added to a wide range of sweet and savoury dishes. It can be segmented or sliced and used as a garnish or added to drinks. Can be used to make marmalade and in preserves.
Passionfruit
Passiflora spp.
Also known as: Granadilla
Description
A round vine fruit the skin of which can vary in colour, contains a sweet pulp with many small edible seeds.
Thought to be originally native to South America, early Spanish explorers were thought to have introduced it to Europe
Use
Wash or wipe clean. Cut in half and eat with a teaspoon or scooped out and added to fruit salads, pavlovas, ice cream, sorbets or drinks.
Peach
Prunus persica
Description
A plump, round stoned fruit with a soft fuzzy skin, having juicy, fragrant flesh, a member of the rose family and related to the almond.
Originally native to China, thought to have been bought to Europe via the silk route over 2000 years ago. It was known in Britain during Anglo-Saxon times and was cultivated here during the Elizabethan era.
Use
Wash and dry. Leave whole and can be poached or stewed or used in pies, tarts, puddings, sauces, ice cream or sorbets.
Pear
Pyrus communis
Description
The fruit is plump and tapered towards one end, the skin can range in colour from pale yellow to green with white, juicy flesh. There are many varieties.
Originally native to western Asia, thought to have been bought to Europe by the ancient Greeks.
Use
Wash and dry. Serve fresh whole or cut into halves, quarters or segments, as a dessert fruit or in fruit or savoury salads, or with cheese. Can be poached (in wine), stewed or baked. Or use in pies, tarts, charlottes, crumbles, puddings, sauces, ice cream or sorbets.
Pineapple
Ananas comosus
Description
A cylindrical fruit with cactus-like leaves that is divided into prickly spikes, it has juicy yellow flesh with a distinctive aroma.
Native to South America, thought to have been bought to Europe by Columbus.
Use
Cut the leaves from the top and remove the base of the fruit, stand it upright and slice downwards to reveal the flesh, then carefully remove the 'eyes'. Lay on its side and slice through, removing the woody core. Or, cut lengthways and remove the fruit from the skin using a sharp knife.
Serve fresh in rings or cubed, as a dessert fruit or in fruit or savoury salads or with cheese. Or use sauces, ice cream, sorbets or drinks. It can be grilled or fried with chicken or ham, or used as a garnish.
Plum
Prunus spp.
Description
A stoned round fruit with a shiny skin which can vary in colour from green to deep red with sweet, pulpy flesh. There are many varieties.
Originally native to western Asia, though now cultivated throughout the world.
Use
Wash and dry. Serve fresh whole or stoned and cut into halves, as a dessert fruit or in fruit salads. Can be poached, stewed or baked. Or used in pies, tarts, puddings, sauces, ice cream or sorbets. Can be used to make jams and preserves.
Pomegranate
Punica granatum
Description
A small round fruit, similar in size to an orange, has a leathery red skin. Inside it is divided into segments by regions of pith, each section contains pink, juicy pulp surrounding white, edible seeds.
Native to the Mediterranean, it is an ancient fruit which has been depicted in temple carvings of Egypt and China.
Use
Cut in half, scoop out the flesh, discard the casing. Or serve as a dessert fruit, which can be eaten by sucking the juice from the fruit. The juice can be added to sauces, ice cream, sorbets or drinks. Or with fish or chicken dishes.
Quince
Cydonia oblongs
Description
Of a similar size and appearance to an apple but with a peaked end, the flesh is again similar to an apple but very sour. A member of the rose family.
Thought to be originally native to western Asia, it was documented by the ancient Greeks.
Use
Wash and dry. Usually cooked to improve their flavour. Should be peeled, cored and cut into various shapes, depending on the recipe to be followed. Cook by stewing, baking or poaching. It can be added to pies or puddings. Can be used to make jams jellies and pastes.
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