BEST FRUITS
Apple
The
apple tree (
Malus domestica) is a deciduous tree in the rose family best known for its sweet, pomaceous fruit, the
apple. It is cultivated worldwide as a fruit tree, and is the most widely grown species in the genus
Malus. The tree originated in Central Asia, where its wild ancestor,
Malus sieversii,
is still found today. Apples have been grown for thousands of years in
Asia and Europe, and were brought to North America by European
colonists. Apples have religious and mythological significance in many
cultures, including Norse, Greek and European Christian traditions.
Apple trees are large if grown from seed, but small if grafted onto
roots (rootstock). There are more than 7,500 known cultivars of apples,
resulting in a range of desired characteristics. Different cultivars are
bred for various tastes and uses, including cooking, eating raw and
cider production. Apples are generally propagated by grafting, although
wild apples grow readily from seed. Trees and fruit are prone to a
number of fungal, bacterial and pest problems, which can be controlled
by a number of organic and non-organic means. In 2010, the fruit's
genome was decoded as part of research on disease control and selective
breeding in apple production.
About 80 million tons of apples were grown worldwide in 2013, and China produced almost half of this total.
The United States is the second-leading producer, with more than 6% of
world production. Turkey is third, followed by Italy, India and Poland.
Apples are often eaten raw, but can also be found in many prepared foods
(especially desserts) and drinks. Many beneficial health effects are
thought to result from eating apples; however, two types of allergies
are attributed to various proteins found in the fruit.
Berries
For botanical usage, see Berry (botany).
In everyday language, a
berry is a small, pulpy and often
edible fruit. Berries are usually juicy, rounded, brightly colored,
sweet or sour, and do not have a stone or pit, although many pips or
seeds may be present.
Common examples are strawberries, raspberries, blueberries; and red- and blackcurrants.
In Britain
soft fruit is a horticultural term for such fruits.
The scientific usage of the term berry differs from common usage. In
scientific terminology, a berry is a fruit produced from the ovary of a
single flower in which the outer layer of the ovary wall develops into
an edible fleshy portion (botanically the pericarp). The definition
includes many fruits that are not commonly known as berries, such as
grapes, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants (aubergines), avocados and
bananas. Fruits excluded by the botanical definition include
strawberries and raspberries. A plant bearing berries is said to be
bacciferous or
baccate.
Many berries are edible, but some are poisonous to humans, such as the
fruits of the potato, the deadly nightshade and pokeweed can cause harm.
Others, such as the white, red mulberry, and elderberry are poisonous
when unripe, but are edible in their ripe form.
Berries are eaten worldwide and often used in jams, preserves, cakes or pies.
Some berries are commercially important. The berry industry varies from
country to country as do types of berries cultivated or growing in the
wild. Many berries such as raspberries and strawberries have been bred
for thousands of years and are distinct from their wild counterparts,
while some berries such as lingonberries and cloudberries grow almost exclusively in the wild.
Lemon
The
lemon (
Citrus × limon) is a species of small evergreen tree native to Asia.
The tree's ellipsoidal yellow fruit is used for culinary and
non-culinary purposes throughout the world, primarily for its juice,
which has both culinary and cleaning uses.The pulp and rind (zest) are
also used in cooking and baking. The juice of the lemon is about 5% to
6% citric acid, which gives a sour taste. The distinctive sour taste of
lemon juice makes it a key ingredient in drinks and foods such as
lemonade and lemon meringue pie.
Lemon juice, rind, and zest are used in a wide variety of foods and drinks. Lemon juice is used to make
lemonade,
soft drinks, and cocktails. It is used in marinades for fish, where its acid neutralizes
amines in fish by converting them into nonvolatile ammonium salts, and meat, where the acid partially
hydrolyzes tough collagen fibers,
tenderizing the meat, but the low
pH denatures the proteins, causing them to dry out when cooked. Lemon juice is frequently used in the United Kingdom to add to
pancakes, especially on Shrove Tuesday.
Lemon juice is also used as a short-term
preservative
on certain foods that tend to oxidize and turn brown after being sliced
(enzymatic browning), such as apples, bananas, and avocados, where its
acid denatures the enzymes.
Lemon juice and rind are used to make
marmalade and lemon liqueur. Lemon slices and lemon rind are used as a
garnish for food and drinks. Lemon
zest, the grated outer rind of the fruit, is used to add flavor to baked goods, puddings, rice, and other dishes.
The leaves of the lemon tree are used to make a tea and for preparing cooked meats and seafoods.
Pomegranate
The
pomegranate (
), botanical name
Punica granatum, is a fruit-bearing
deciduous shrub or small
tree in the family Lythraceae that grows between 5 and 8 m (16 and 26 ft) tall.
In the
Northern Hemisphere, the fruit is typically in season from September to February, and in the Southern Hemisphere from March to May. As intact
arils or juice, pomegranates are used in cooking, baking, meal garnishes, juice blends,
smoothies, and alcoholic beverages, such as
cocktails and
wine.
The pomegranate originated in the region of modern-day
Iran and has been cultivated since ancient times throughout the
Mediterranean region and northern
India. It was introduced into America (Spanish America) in the late 16th century and California by
Spanish settlers in 1769.
Today, it is widely cultivated throughout the
Middle East and Caucasus region,
north Africa and
tropical Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Central Asia, the drier parts of southeast Asia, and parts of the Mediterranean Basin.
It is also cultivated in parts of California and
Arizona.In recent years, it has become more common in the commercial markets of Europe and the Western Hemisphere.
