In addition to Maradora, Messi, and Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, can you imagine that this country famous for football is also rich in various fruits? Moreover, it has been exported to China.
▲ Argentine cherries are also exported to China
The imported blueberries and cherries you eat may come from Argentina.
In the reference news article "Arab Media Article: Friendship with China Has Become Argentina's National Policy", it is mentioned that Argentina will include China friendship in its national policy, which means that we will eat more and more Argentine fruits in the future.
▲ Farmers' market in Argentina
Let's take a sneak peek at the 6 specialties of Argentina and what are the seasonal fruits of Argentina throughout the year.
■ "Chilean myrtle" regarded as a treasure fruit
Also known on the mainland as "mountain kudu", "Myrtle" is regarded as a treasure in Chile and Argentina in South America.
▲ Ripe Chilean myrtle fruit
In Argentina, the Chilean myrtle tree is commonly found in rio Negro, Chubut, the banks, lakes and forests of southern Neuquén, and the Arrayanes River in Los Alaces National Park.
It is a small evergreen tree with orange-red bark with glowing white patches. Its unique shape makes it one of the landscape trees. In the summer, it will bloom a cluster of small white flowers. Unripe flowers, which can be used to cook tortillas and can also be used to pick honey.
▲Chilean myrtle fruit picked
The Chilean myrtle produces small purple berries that can be eaten raw. It can also be used to make jams, sauces, brewing cider, fermented drinks and other refreshing drinks.
The Chilean myrtle tree has a long lifespan, the oldest tree, which can live to more than 650 years.
■ Tomato is a close relative of the "goldenberry" (Aguaymanto)
▲ We call it the girl fruit
I believe that when you see the picture, you will recognize it at a glance, it is a common girl fruit in the northeast region of the mainland.
The Latin name for the goldberry is "Aguaymanto", known locally as "Goldenberry", also known as "Peruvian Ground Cherry" or "topotopo". It is a fruit native to South America and belongs to the same family as tomatoes.
▲ Unripe girl fruit
The whole fruit of the goldenberry is edible, with a smooth peel and juicy flesh, and it is somewhat sour to eat, with a slightly bitter taste.
Goldberries are mainly grown in northwestern Argentina, especially in the provinces of Salta and Juyjuy. In addition to eating it fresh, locals often pair it with other desserts. Ripe fruit can also be used to make jams.
▲The interior of the girl's fruit
However, like us, the new generation of Argentines does not like its taste so much that it is not a mainstream fruit in the market.
■ Argentina national fruit "Mansana apple"
▲ Argentina national fruit
There are more than 7500 varieties of apples, and the varieties we eat daily are less than 10.
This apple, called "Manzana", is not native to the Argentine region, but because of its sweet taste, it is quite popular with the locals and is listed as the national fruit of Argentina.
▲ Argentina's most popular apple
Unlike more of our fresh apples, people in South America also use apples for baking, adding them to vegetables, and eating them with other foods. For example, it is made into dried apples, salads or preserves.
■Americas representative "cactus fruit"
Cacti are representative species of the Americas, and cacti that are in the same vein as dragon fruit will also produce sweet fruits, and there are many in Argentina.
▲ He is a close relative of dragon fruit
The cactus fruit, called Chaco prickly pear, is said to have originated in Mexico and then spread throughout Central and South America, all the way to Argentina.
It is not artificially grown, but is a wild fruit from the northern region of Argentina.
It can grow up to a meter tall and the thorny branches are up to 15-25 cm long. From summer to autumn, it will bear fruit. The fruit is covered with small purple spines. The taste is sweet, but it is not as delicious as dragon fruit.
▲The flesh is beautiful and bright
Its fruit can be used to produce cider and brew fruit vinegar, and is also commonly used to make juices, syrups, ice cream, yogurt, jams, candies, etc.
Although not a mainstream fruit for commercialization, it has always been part of the Diet of the Indigenous People of Argentina and is considered a treasure, often seen in courtyards and on small farms.
■ And cashew nuts are close relatives of the pig plum (Ciruela)
▲ Pigs and plum fruits sold in piles
Ciruela, also known as "Wild Lumama", is a close relative of cashew nuts.
It is native to Central America and is widely popular with locals. The trunk of the pig plum can grow to more than 15 meters.
The fruit is oblong or elongated, with an average diameter of 2–5 cm, and the fruit has a leathery rind, yellowish-green or bright red, and can be eaten all year round in Argentina.
The unripe pork plum fruit can be eaten raw with salt, vinegar or sugar to balance its astringency, or it can be used to make a green sauce and serve with dishes.
▲Pig plum fruit growing on a tree
In addition to being eaten raw, ripe fruit can also be mixed with other ingredients to make into refreshing drinks, or into preserves, jellies and jams, as well as boiled syrups or ice cream toppings.
■"Pineapple guava" which is difficult to export
▲Also known as Fiji fruit
Although it doesn't look like pineapple at all, it has the name "pineapple guava" because it tastes like a mixture of pineapple, apple and mint.
Also known as the "Fiji Fruit", it is native to the northern region of Argentina and is found in many countries in South America.
Pineapple guava ripens in autumn and has a green oval shape, about the size of an egg. It has a very seductive smell, smells sweet and aromatic, and will make people think of some high-end perfumes.
▲What it looks like after cutting
When the fruit is ripe, the taste is most intense. The flesh is sweet and juicy to eat, with transparent, gelatinous seeds and pulp in the middle. However, it is also easy to fall at this time, so it is difficult to export. To eat it, it is best to go local.
The 7th largest fruit producing and exporting country, the melon and fruit continue throughout the year
Between 2016 and 2017, Argentina ranked 7th in the world in fruit production and 7th in exports. A large number of high-quality and delicious fruits are exported not only to Europe and the United States, but also to China. Among them, cherries have begun to be exported to China in 2018.
In addition to the above-mentioned range of endemic fruits, Argentina also has many mainstream fruits, which are found throughout the year.
However, due to the climate, the summer of the year is the most abundant seasonal fruit in Argentina. Of course, autumn, winter and spring, common mainstream fruits, you can eat.
Farmers in Argentina
Spring Argentina Seasonal Fruits List:
Strawberries, raspberries, cherries, blueberries, apples, oranges, avocados, pineapples, bananas, strawberries, lemons.
List of seasonal fruits in Argentina in summer:
Raspberries, blackberries, apples, watermelons, grapes, lemons, pears, blueberries, strawberries, figs, melons, oranges, pineapples, plums, cherries, apricots, peaches.
List of seasonal fruits in Argentina in autumn and winter:
Bananas, plums, peaches, lemons, oranges, melons, papayas, oranges, avocados, pears, grapefruit.
▲Argentine fruit market
If you love fruit, it's the best time to go to Argentina in the summer.
Epilogue:
Fruit is to touch the carrier of a country's cuisine, culture and nature with the tip of the tongue, it does not need language and depiction, just indulge in it to experience and feel, the most authentic culture of a country.
If you go to Argentina, you will definitely find a different Argentina among these fruits.