LOQUAT

LOQUAT

LATIN NAME: ERIOBOTRICA JAPANICA

MAIN HOMELAND: CHINA

Carp turning into dragons

Although the homeland of the loquat fruit considered to be China, it is also thought that it may have been brought to China by Japanese scientists during the Tang Dynasty in the 6th-9th centuries.

A legend has been created for loquat in China, where it is mostly planted near streams while it loves abundant water and deep sandy soils.

According to the belief, carp eating the plum fruit spilled into the stream get the strength from the plums to swim against the stream and pass the waterfalls in order to lay their eggs. After laying their eggs, they turn into dragons with a power believed to come from the loquat. According to this legend, loquat was believed to give dragon power, and in China, people were forbidden to eat loquat, and it became a fruit that could only be eaten by royalty.

Mentioned in 75 poems of the famous poet of the Tang Dynasty, Li Bai, the loquat is also known as the fruit that has been the subject of poems the most in the history of literature.

Loquat was brought to Europe by the German naturalist Engelbert Kämpfer after his 10-year expedition in Iran, China, Southeast Asia and Japan between 1683 and 1693 and to America by Chinese immigrants at the beginning of the 20th century, began to be planted in California's gardens by the Chinese in order to satisfy their homesickness.

Loquat is one of the rare fruits that is eaten as a medicine among the people, is the most well-known effects are expectorant and healing feature of cough. Known to be rich in vitamins B6 and C, other well-known benefits of loquat is regulating blood sugar, digestion and providing comfortable sleep.