Summer Fruits: Loquats and more

It is a known fact that the fruits and vegetables in Israel are tastier, but there is also a much bigger selection. There are fruits in season all year long, but besides your staple of apples and oranges, you can also find pomegranates, passion fruit and dates just as easily. My first surprise was finding out that strawberry season is in the winter in Israel, rather than in the summer. All winter long I feasted on strawberries and cream, strawberry waffles and strawberries in my cereal. Now that summer is upon us, you can find fruit stands full of cherries, apricots and figs! Fruit that I have only ever seen as dried fruit that I ate on Tu B’shvat (the Jewish Arbor day) now takes on a whole new meaning.

One summer fruit that has been recently introduced to me, the loquat, is especially scrumptious. A loquat is in the same family as a kumquat (also at the beginning of its season here) but is larger and sweeter. It grows on trees and can be eaten with or without its skin. Besides fruit being inexpensive to buy in the market, almost everyone has a lemon or loquat tree growing in their backyard (unless you live in the center of Tel Aviv and can barely hold a few plants on your patio). It is not uncommon here to bring a bag of freshly picked fruit to a host’s house for dinner, or just randomly when stopping by.

Watermelon is by far the most popular summer fruit. One can eat it as is, or with cubes of feta cheese on top. Before you make that sour face, I encourage you to give it a try. There is something quite tasty about the salty cheese and the sweet watermelon in one bite.