Where Do Most of the World's Apricots Come from this Country?

For some occasions, dried fruit is used to adorn charcuterie boards, while fresh fruit is needed for chocolate fountains or to squeeze into cool juices. Fruits can now be found year-round thanks to advances in agricultural science, whether you need them dried for a fruitcake or fresh for a summer salad. The apricot is one of the best fruits to eat either way.

Although apricots are not as popular in the West as strawberries or melons, they are every bit as tasty and sweet. According to Food Network, the flavour is peaches with a little sour undertone that will have you salivating. In addition to being delicious as a snack whether eaten fresh or dry, the fruit may also be cooked into amazing tarts and cakes, just like other stone fruits like peaches and cherries. Peaches, cherries, almonds, and prunes are relatives of apricots, which are also well-known for being made into jams and syrups for apricot cocktails (via Britannica). The apricot is not only delicious in taste but also gorgeous to see at, with flesh that is a vivid orange and gold hue and a sink that like a sunset.

Read Also: Where Do Most of the World's Grapes Come from this Country?

Turkey is a Big Producer of Apricots

Although apricot trees are grown all over the world, the Food and Agriculture Organization states that Turkey now produces the most apricots. Due to its warm environment, Turkey is a prominent producer of figs and cherries in addition to being a grower of numerous warm-weather crops. According to Visit Local Turkey, the apricot has thrived in Turkey under the watchful care of Turkish farmers for thousands of years. Apricots are widely farmed across Turkey, although Malatya-Elaz-Erzincan is recognised for providing 85 to 90% of the world's dried apricots while the majority of these regions produce fresh fruit (via Golden Maprix).

Turkish apricots differ significantly from those produced in California. According to Cooks Illustrated, Californian fruits are dried after being split in half, whereas Turkish or "Mediterranean" apricots are dried whole. As a result, they have a plumper and moister flavour than the American version, which tends to have more of the sour qualities of the apricot. So reserve the Californian-grown fruit for snacks and focus on Turkish apricots if you're seeking for a sweeter kind to utilise in recipes.

The Apricot's History

Apricots were not first cultivated in Turkey or other Mediterranean countries, despite the fact that they are currently frequently farmed there. The fruit was initially grown, according to National Public Radio, in China circa 2000 B.C. The Silk Road, Alexander the Great, and immigrants who found the apricot's distinct taste too seductive to live in far-off regions all contributed to the apricot's eventual spread west. The more the apricot spread, the more frequently it was seen as a symbol of riches on the tables of royalty and nobility.

The tree was eventually successfully planted during the Persian Wars in Southern Europe and eventually even made it to England, France, and ultimately the Americas (via Academic Journals). Despite the apricot tree's extensive travels over the world, it only truly flourishes in warm areas and gets unruly when exposed to the cold. According to the Cloud Mountain Farm Center, apricots tend to mature during brief, dry springtime, and low temperatures have been known to ruin a crop that was otherwise excellent.

The Apricot's Characteristics

Apricots are currently cultivated more effectively in the East than the West, but it doesn't imply that people don't consume the fruit in large quantities (via World Atlas). Recipes like dried filled apricots with walnuts for an appetiser or snack as well as apricot-cardamom preserves to offer with tea and breakfast are well appreciated. The apricot is a lovely complement to the dinner table due to its sweet acidity and recognised hue.

Additionally, apricots are simply healthy to eat! Because of their antioxidant, fibre, vitamin, and potassium content as well as the fact that eating fresh apricots is hydrating, apricots, according to Healthline, may help improve the health of your gut, skin, and eyes when consumed regularly. Apricots can be served and consumed both fresh and dried, as The Fruits of Turkey tells us, but sun-dried apricots are especially well-liked as snacks and are simpler to ship internationally than their fresh counterparts. Don't be alarmed if your apricots appear brown; you may have noticed while shopping that some dried apricots retain their brilliant orange colour better than others. Naturally, dried apricots will get black and lose their colour, but sulfur-treated apricots will retain their colour.

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