"Nobody" > wrote in message
...
> There is a tree known as "loquat" that was widely planted in California
for
> decorative purposes over the past century or more. It is a kind of medlar,
> and bears one of my favorite fruits. When I was growing up in southern
> California it was widely used for jam and pies, although I only ate it
raw.
> It has a wonderful taste, sort of a cross between a peach and an orange.
You
> are very lucky to have a regular supply.
>

We are not talking about the same fruit. Medlars are about the size of a
golf ball, with a brown skin a bit like a pear but thicker, the end opposite
the stem has a strange rounded depression with a fringe around it, in some
old books they were called the "open arse fruit". When underipe the flesh
is cream and woody like a quince but when ripened (bletted) it goes brown
and soft. The flavour is most like a spicy (some say cinnamon) overripe
apple. Neither the flavour nor the texture are like peaches or oranges.

Apparently the loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) is sometimes called the Japanese
medlar and it is distantly related to the medlar (Mispilus germanica). I
have tried to grow the loquat but so far withour success, it does not like
frost.

David