Apricots are related to cherries, plums, peaches, and almonds.It is one of the oldest known fruit cultivated 4000 years ago. It is a member of the rose family.Apricot is derived from the French word ‘aubercot’. It means early ripening. Apricots were first found to be grown in Armenia in the 16th century. There were studies that showed that the fruit also appeared in China and Central Asia in the middle ages. Apricot is a type of stonefruit. Its color varies from yellow to orange and looks similar to a peach. The leaves are oval in shape and have four to five whitish-pink color petals. Read on to learn more about this delicious fruit!Facts About ApricotsApricot trees can grow up to 15 ft (4.57 m) tall. These are very sturdy trees and can produce fruits for 20-25 years. Apricots have over 11 different species. Every species is specific to a region of the world.Manchurian apricot, Japanese apricot, Briancon apricot, Hongping apricot, Siberian apricot, and Zhenghe apricot are some of the different types of apricots grown across the world.The word apricot means ‘precious’ in Latin.It also means ’early ripening’, which means it ripens early than other summer fruits.An orange color indicates ripe apricots, not green or yellow.A reddish-orange color is also seen as an indication of ripeness.There are only 17 calories in an apricot fruit, hence it is ideal for dieters.It contains vitamin A, potassium, dietary fiber, and vitamin C.Apricots can also be eaten as dried fruit.Dried apricots are a good source of iron according to USDA Agricultural Research Service.National Apricot Day is celebrated annually on January 9.The fruit was brought to Greece by Alexander the Great.During the 1700s, peaches reached North America and now is cultivated in six continents.In the United States, California produces 95% of Apricots.The Benefits Of ApricotsApricots are closely related to almonds, cherries, and plums. They grow in temperate Mediterranean regions. There are many ways of eating apricots: cooked, canned, dry, and fresh. Apricot jam is widely popular among people, for its sweet and rich flavor.Apricots cannot survive in winter, and the tree withers as soon as spring frost occurs. It is impossible to grow apricot trees in colder climates.In the olden days, apricot oil was heavily used to treat ulcers, swelling, and tumors.Apricots have laetrile and amygdalin which are known to have medicinal effects on cancer patients.Apricots are also used as aphrodisiacs in Europe.Apricots also taste delicious as jams too.They usually come out in the seasons of August and September.In the olden days, Chinese doctors used apricot seeds to cure diseases.Apricots should be left at room temperature to eat, and not be stored in the refrigerator.Apricot helps in improving eye health as it is rich in beta-carotene and vitamin A.Dried apricots provide the required amount of fiber in a day if taken in proportion.Calcium, potassium, and iron are present in dried apricots.Dried Apricot FactsSulfur dioxide gas is used to protect the bright orange color of dried apricots. Dark brown apricots are a better option for those who have sulfur sensitivity. Apricots look like a small peach, with a slightly darker yellowish-orange color.Apricot seeds provide as much nutrition as other nuts.The seeds of apricot fruit contain laetrile which is a toxic chemical.The apricot seeds are dried in the sun and appear brown in color.Eating too many kernels or seeds of apricots may harm one’s health.The Spanish explorers brought apricots to Virginia but they did not grow well in that climate.Then they brought them to California, where they survived in a mild climate.Apricot seeds are poisonous to consume until they are roasted.After they are roasted, they are safe to eat and used for medicinal purposes.The extract apricot seeds are used in Italian liqueur amaretto and amaretti biscotti.The apricot tree can produce fruit for as long as 25 years.The Ripening Process of ApricotsPlum is also sweet fruit that possesses the same chloroplast DNA sequence as apricots. Underripe apricots can be kept in a paper bag for a few days to make them ripe. Many savory and sweet recipes around the world use apricots.Apricots can be picked when they are orange or slight orange in color.Apricots can ripen after one or two days if they are kept in a paper bag.While picking apricots from the trees, they should not be green in color.Green color apricots will not ripen if they are picked too early.Only apricots with a pink or red tinge to them should be picked, and later on, can be kept in iceboxes to ripen.It is better to let the fruits ripen on the tree itself, to maintain their sweet flavor.Apricots ripened artificially, only look soft, but do not taste flavourful.Apricots look similar to plums as they come from the same rose family.Ripe apricots might be overripe if they feel mushy and soft.The flesh of a ripe apricot fruit is rich yellow.
Apricots are related to cherries, plums, peaches, and almonds.
