On the way to the supermarket today, I passed by a tree heavy with fruit. I remember eating lots of these fruits in a family friend’s backyard as a kid. I haven’t seen them since. Today, I couldn’t resist picking one and biting into it. Delicious. Just the way I remembered it tasting.

Loquats are a Chinese fruit and are also found in Japan where they were introduced many years ago. Loquats seem to do really well in Auckland climate. Why is this the first in 12 years that I’ve seen this fruit?

Loquats have the grainy texture of a feijoa but are less tart and strong. Think of a milder, slightly peachier flavour of feijoa and you just about have it.