“We are new to this place. But we preserve ourselves.”
September 3, 2020 11:13 AM Subscribe
The loquat, San Francisco’s secret fruit, is hidden in plain sight
The story of loquats in my family is also an immigration story. Just as Pau Pau immigrated to the United States from China, so did the loquat arrive on these shores. Loquats and my family share a lineage that goes back to the land in Southern China. We thrive in temperate localities: Zhongshan, San Francisco. Adaptation takes many forms. For loquats in the United States, new soils and climate meant a physical adaptation. When Pau Pau arrived here in San Francisco, she adapted to the culture, the language, and a new way of life. Adaptation does not preclude retaining a sense of self, though. A loquat is still a loquat. And my family still keeps our Chinese traditions close thanks to my grandparents and great-grandparents.By Jennifer Wong in Mission Local.
Loquats are tremendous. The author's description of them being a cross between a peach and an apricot, with a hint of mango, is spot on. They're a perfect fruit for kids too, because they're delicious and soft and bountiful and easy to pick but require a little effort to process so there's something to do while you eat.
A tree can live to be 150 years old, but requires eight to 10 years of growth before it bears fruit. And, even then, trees only bear fruit every two or three years.
That... hasn't been our experience. Ours, which is maybe 10 years old max, has fruited once a year for the last 3 years, with this spring's harvest being so prodigious that we were able to eat fresh fruit every day for over a month and still grab enough to make three separate batches of preserves. Far and away the best fruit tree in our yard in terms of both appearance and production. If you're lucky enough to live in an area where loquats can grow, you should absolutely put a tree or two in if you can.
posted by saladin at 12:08 PM on September 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
A tree can live to be 150 years old, but requires eight to 10 years of growth before it bears fruit. And, even then, trees only bear fruit every two or three years.
That... hasn't been our experience. Ours, which is maybe 10 years old max, has fruited once a year for the last 3 years, with this spring's harvest being so prodigious that we were able to eat fresh fruit every day for over a month and still grab enough to make three separate batches of preserves. Far and away the best fruit tree in our yard in terms of both appearance and production. If you're lucky enough to live in an area where loquats can grow, you should absolutely put a tree or two in if you can.
posted by saladin at 12:08 PM on September 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
So out of curiousity I followed her citation and I think she just misread the source:
"A loquat tree grown from seed can take eight to 10 years to produce a crop of fruit. Grafted trees take considerably less time bearing fruit and can produce a crop at 2 to 3 years old."
posted by saladin at 12:11 PM on September 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
"A loquat tree grown from seed can take eight to 10 years to produce a crop of fruit. Grafted trees take considerably less time bearing fruit and can produce a crop at 2 to 3 years old."
posted by saladin at 12:11 PM on September 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
It's a Wild, Wild Party in the Loquat Tree!
posted by Harvey Kilobit at 12:31 PM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Harvey Kilobit at 12:31 PM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
In my experience, loquats fruit on 3 year old growth. I have one that I've trimmed extensively (they grow like wildfire). The parts I've trimmed won't immediately fruit, while the parts I've left alone fruit every year - all on the same tree.
posted by spudsilo at 1:14 PM on September 3, 2020
posted by spudsilo at 1:14 PM on September 3, 2020
I've always felt that loquats are kind of a best-kept secret among city foragers. The amount of times someone has asked what I'm picking, followed by "You can EAT those?!"
posted by fiercecupcake at 1:37 PM on September 3, 2020
posted by fiercecupcake at 1:37 PM on September 3, 2020
I've talked about this before, but San Francisco is full of 'ethnic' fruit that is left to rot, and an official policy to replace fruit bearing trees with sterile ones.
These are some of the trees / plants that I gathered fruit from during my time in SF. This may be out of date by 3 or so years:
- Loquats as shown in the map in the OP.
- Delicious prickly pears all over the Mission, but mostly in private properties. There are some really nice opuntias with big juicy fruits outside a victorian house on Gough close to McAllister.
- Strawberry Guava in many places. There are four HUGE trees with delicious fruit on the public courtyard of the brick building on Embarcadero where Mozilla has their SF offices.
- Feijoa (tastes and looks like a very aromatic guava) at a school close to Chenery and Randall.
- 3 or 4 decent date palms on Dolores close to San Jose.
- Escobilla, or Peruvian Pepper, around Upper Noe Rec. Center.
- Mandarin and Mexican Sweet Lime a couple blocks south of Glen Park Rec. Center.
posted by Dr. Curare at 1:53 PM on September 3, 2020 [11 favorites]
These are some of the trees / plants that I gathered fruit from during my time in SF. This may be out of date by 3 or so years:
- Loquats as shown in the map in the OP.
- Delicious prickly pears all over the Mission, but mostly in private properties. There are some really nice opuntias with big juicy fruits outside a victorian house on Gough close to McAllister.
- Strawberry Guava in many places. There are four HUGE trees with delicious fruit on the public courtyard of the brick building on Embarcadero where Mozilla has their SF offices.
- Feijoa (tastes and looks like a very aromatic guava) at a school close to Chenery and Randall.
- 3 or 4 decent date palms on Dolores close to San Jose.
- Escobilla, or Peruvian Pepper, around Upper Noe Rec. Center.
- Mandarin and Mexican Sweet Lime a couple blocks south of Glen Park Rec. Center.
posted by Dr. Curare at 1:53 PM on September 3, 2020 [11 favorites]
This was an especially productive year for the loquat trees around Austin. I've got a friend who made loquat jam, and a neighbor with a big tree who set a ladder out so that passersby could harvest more of his loquats. It's also been a good year for figs.
posted by adamrice at 2:00 PM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by adamrice at 2:00 PM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
Here in Italy, the loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) have won out, to the point of now owning the common name "nespole", over the older, European Mespilus germanica (also a Rosacea), the fruit Italians previously knew by that name. Though the mottled orange orbs do show up in stores here during their brief season in May, they're also a frequent spontaneous find, forageable in many Italian cities (here's an attempt at a crowdsourced map). The other, original nespole, you'll only find on countryside walks in late winter.
posted by progosk at 2:51 PM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by progosk at 2:51 PM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
Ummm...
- Feijoa (tastes and looks like a very aromatic guava) at a school close to Chenery and Randall.
- 3 or 4 decent date palms on Dolores close to San Jose.
- Escobilla, or Peruvian Pepper, around Upper Noe Rec. Center.
- Mandarin and Mexican Sweet Lime a couple blocks south of Glen Park Rec. Center.
...we need to talk. Especially about this feijoa that is apparently within spitting distance (although I've never managed to get good dates from the Dolores palms). Also, hi neighbor?
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 3:20 PM on September 3, 2020
- Feijoa (tastes and looks like a very aromatic guava) at a school close to Chenery and Randall.
- 3 or 4 decent date palms on Dolores close to San Jose.
- Escobilla, or Peruvian Pepper, around Upper Noe Rec. Center.
- Mandarin and Mexican Sweet Lime a couple blocks south of Glen Park Rec. Center.
...we need to talk. Especially about this feijoa that is apparently within spitting distance (although I've never managed to get good dates from the Dolores palms). Also, hi neighbor?
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 3:20 PM on September 3, 2020
Lovely article.
The first time I had ever seen the fruit, it was from a huge tree in the yard beside a room I subletted the summer after my first year in college. The lower parts were picked clean, but from my second floor window I could gather all the fruit I could eat. I lived almost entirely on loquats and ten pound bags of spaghetti for months. I'd replace the spaghetti today, but the fruit was great. It made my life significantly better that summer. I don't think I properly thanked the person who pointed out that you could eat them.
In Southern California I learned about mulberries. Now, I'm in pawpaw country, but I still haven't had one. That might not be a bad excuse for exploring.
posted by eotvos at 3:50 PM on September 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
The first time I had ever seen the fruit, it was from a huge tree in the yard beside a room I subletted the summer after my first year in college. The lower parts were picked clean, but from my second floor window I could gather all the fruit I could eat. I lived almost entirely on loquats and ten pound bags of spaghetti for months. I'd replace the spaghetti today, but the fruit was great. It made my life significantly better that summer. I don't think I properly thanked the person who pointed out that you could eat them.
In Southern California I learned about mulberries. Now, I'm in pawpaw country, but I still haven't had one. That might not be a bad excuse for exploring.
posted by eotvos at 3:50 PM on September 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
lots of loquats in Bakersfield. I found a couple to forage. I also got a owner approved meyer lemon tree to pick. That butter you can make from them is way good. The loquats I love them. The local farmers market has jujubes last year, and there are many other wonderful things to buy as well.
posted by Oyéah at 5:24 PM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Oyéah at 5:24 PM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
there were many trees in Fresno(North of Bakersfield) and my brother was a fan. me not so much. here in Fair Oaks(Sacramento up the hill a bit) there are some but i haven't tried them again. maybe next season.
posted by wmo at 5:46 PM on September 3, 2020
posted by wmo at 5:46 PM on September 3, 2020
Here in Italy, the loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) have won out, to the point of now owning the common name "nespole", over the older, European Mespilus germanica
I've often seen loquats (from Spain, I think) in London shops for a fairly short season, and they are always labeled as medlars. I've never seen actual medlars for sale, which is fine by me, as the few times I have tasted them they are pretty unexciting. Loquats are delicious though; they are one of the fruits (like cherries and figs) that I always mean to try cooking but end up eating raw.
Loquats are supposed to be too tender to grow outdoors in the UK, but several gardens near me have pretty large trees, and in some years they have lots of fruit, which I am unable to get at. They grow pretty readily from seed, and have nice big decorative leaves, so I suppose they were originally planted as ornamentals. I was surprised to find they originate in China - I always thought they were from the Middle East, probably since I mostly see them in Turkish shops here.
posted by Fuchsoid at 6:29 PM on September 3, 2020
I've often seen loquats (from Spain, I think) in London shops for a fairly short season, and they are always labeled as medlars. I've never seen actual medlars for sale, which is fine by me, as the few times I have tasted them they are pretty unexciting. Loquats are delicious though; they are one of the fruits (like cherries and figs) that I always mean to try cooking but end up eating raw.
Loquats are supposed to be too tender to grow outdoors in the UK, but several gardens near me have pretty large trees, and in some years they have lots of fruit, which I am unable to get at. They grow pretty readily from seed, and have nice big decorative leaves, so I suppose they were originally planted as ornamentals. I was surprised to find they originate in China - I always thought they were from the Middle East, probably since I mostly see them in Turkish shops here.
posted by Fuchsoid at 6:29 PM on September 3, 2020
I love loquats. Haven't had one since I moved to the Northwest 20 years ago. In San Antonio there were several loquat trees in my apartment complex and I ate lots. Here, now, I've made several attempts to get local grocers to get them. I've asked my friends in relatives in Texas to send me some. All futile.
posted by neuron at 11:21 PM on September 3, 2020
posted by neuron at 11:21 PM on September 3, 2020
@neuron, if you're maritime climate, loquat trees will survive in Seattle, though only bear fruit after mild winters.
posted by away for regrooving at 12:31 AM on September 4, 2020
posted by away for regrooving at 12:31 AM on September 4, 2020
loquats (from Spain, I think) in London shops for a fairly short season, and they are always labeled as medlars
So, since loquat are a more recent arrivee in your climes, you're likely observing the same name-usurping in progress! (My local gelateria translates their loquat-nespole to "medlar", so it's being reinforced here, too.)
I've never seen actual medlars for sale, which is fine by me, as the few times I have tasted them they are pretty unexciting.
They crop up at some farmer's market here, for nostalgics of that special bletted taste. (Medlars' own earlier name is a whole nother story...)
posted by progosk at 1:16 AM on September 4, 2020
So, since loquat are a more recent arrivee in your climes, you're likely observing the same name-usurping in progress! (My local gelateria translates their loquat-nespole to "medlar", so it's being reinforced here, too.)
I've never seen actual medlars for sale, which is fine by me, as the few times I have tasted them they are pretty unexciting.
They crop up at some farmer's market here, for nostalgics of that special bletted taste. (Medlars' own earlier name is a whole nother story...)
posted by progosk at 1:16 AM on September 4, 2020
progosk, you are welcome to come forage the nespole from the inherited tree in our garden; our extremely prolific tree fruits very high up, and the birds tend to get to them just before they fully ripen. Then I get to clean up all the fallen mangled/shriveled fruit for the rest of the summer, along with the year-round shedding of leaves.
posted by romakimmy at 2:03 AM on September 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by romakimmy at 2:03 AM on September 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
...we need to talk. Especially about this feijoa that is apparently within spitting distance (although I've never managed to get good dates from the Dolores palms). Also, hi neighbor?
The dates are not that good by themselves, but gather enough and you can make a dates and nuts pie.
The feijoa is inside a school, in the playground. They are in season right now. They are at they best when they fall from the tree, if the birds don't bet you to them.
I don't live in SF anymore. I live in a neighborhood that coincidentally also has feijoas, along with several types of avocados, mangos, guavas, citrus, etc... Last time I had a barbecue I just walked around the block and got enough for a bowl of guacamole and a fruit salad.
posted by Dr. Curare at 10:50 AM on September 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
The dates are not that good by themselves, but gather enough and you can make a dates and nuts pie.
The feijoa is inside a school, in the playground. They are in season right now. They are at they best when they fall from the tree, if the birds don't bet you to them.
I don't live in SF anymore. I live in a neighborhood that coincidentally also has feijoas, along with several types of avocados, mangos, guavas, citrus, etc... Last time I had a barbecue I just walked around the block and got enough for a bowl of guacamole and a fruit salad.
posted by Dr. Curare at 10:50 AM on September 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
Loquats can be made into delicious cough syrup. Your local Chinese grocery store may carry 川贝枇杷膏 in their traditional medicine section.
Because of the slightly elongated shape of the fruit, the similarly shaped Chinese lute is also named 'Pipa', and only later the instrument name was written in a different way to differentiate the two. 'Loquat' comes from its regional name, “卢橘”.
Last year we discovered some loquat trees in our Austin neighborhood and I encouraged my shy six-year-old to write a note asking for the owner's permission to pick some fruit, as it was easier for her to shove a note into a stranger's hand than to say the words in front of a stranger. The small bunch we picked weren't as sweet as the loquats I had as a kid, but it was lovely to taste that particular softness of flesh again.
posted by of strange foe at 1:10 PM on September 4, 2020 [2 favorites]
Because of the slightly elongated shape of the fruit, the similarly shaped Chinese lute is also named 'Pipa', and only later the instrument name was written in a different way to differentiate the two. 'Loquat' comes from its regional name, “卢橘”.
Last year we discovered some loquat trees in our Austin neighborhood and I encouraged my shy six-year-old to write a note asking for the owner's permission to pick some fruit, as it was easier for her to shove a note into a stranger's hand than to say the words in front of a stranger. The small bunch we picked weren't as sweet as the loquats I had as a kid, but it was lovely to taste that particular softness of flesh again.
posted by of strange foe at 1:10 PM on September 4, 2020 [2 favorites]
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