Persian Apples:
What came first, the chicken or the egg, the peach or the nectarine?

Today I would like to take you on a journey to an ancient civilization known for its dragons, paper lanterns, incredible manicured gardens, and delightful festivals. The year is 2000 B.C. and the civilization is the oldest continuous civilization in the world. Here we find the first writings and code of laws, the first manufactured silk, the first use of paper, the first gunpowder, kites, paper money, printed books, fireworks, examples of poetry, painting, music and theater: All important aspects of life in ancient China.

It is to one of their ancient festivals that we travel. It is in the twilight of the evening, and the colorful paper lanterns are lit throughout the town. The full moon is on the horizon, and the incredible aroma of peach blossoms fills the air. This is where we find the origin of the most delightful fruit in the world, the fragrant dribble-down-your-chin peach. It is here we will find written the ancient Chinese proverb “Eat a peach and live forever.” In China the peach tree is still revered as “The Tree of Life” and the queen of fruits.

Cultivation of peaches began in China as early as 2000 B.C. Because of the Silk Road, by 300 B.C. the Greeks and Persians were enjoying these juicy treats. The Greek philosopher Theophrastus thought the peach came from Persia and named it the Persian apple. It reached Europe around the year 1. From Italy, where the Romans referred to peaches as “the nectar of the Gods,” peaches spread throughout Europe and to the Americas.

Then there is the nectarine. Strangely enough, the nectarine is never mentioned in descriptions from before Christ. According to Wayne Sherman, a horticulturist at the University of Florida, peaches and nectarines essentially have the same genes. A peach tree will produce peaches if it inherits the dominant, fuzz-producing gene, but it will make nectarines if it gets the recessive hairless version of the gene. The gene that produces a nectarine also produces a rounder shape and smaller size, with more sugars, more acids, and higher density. On peach trees sometimes you will find nectarines, and on nectarine trees sometimes you will find peaches.

So why are peaches fuzzy? Some believe the fuzz gives the fruit more resistance to insects and diseases. Another theory is that it protects peaches from sunburn and potential water loss. So did the peach develop from the nectarine, or did the nectarine develop from the peach? We don’t know.

Here is another question: why do we not find canned nectarines, nectarine jams, and nectarine nectars? It’s actually partly technical and partly a matter of demand. The mechanical processing has a tendency to ruin the texture of nectarines. The fruit bruises easily, leading to a poor appearance. Also, the supply of nectarines tends to be less bountiful than peaches, because nectarines are highly susceptible to brown rot.

What is the difference between white and yellow varieties of nectarines and peaches? White peaches and nectarines are often sweeter than their yellow counterparts. The reason these white varieties often taste sweeter is that their lower acid levels don’t get in the way of the sugars.

So from the Tree of Life we find that the queen of fruits has only about 46 calories (for a medium-size fruit). It has a fair amount of calcium, which is unusual for a fruit, and also contains iron. It packs a powerful 465 IU of vitamin A to combat the effects of aging. Only the apricot has more Vitamin A. Further benefits from peaches and nectarines include B vitamins, 3 mcg of folic acid, 5.7 mg of vitamin C, 4.35 mg of calcium, 1.4 grams of fiber, 171 mg of potassium, and a little zinc. They’ve got beta carotene which also helps build a strong immune system to prevent damage from free radicals and to avert many skin diseases. They are also ideal for a low sodium diet followed by people with certain heart or kidney conditions, nephritis, edema, and the like.

So pick up a peach or nectarine, split it into perfect halves, and share it with a friend. Smell the aroma, close your eyes, and let your mind drift back 4000 years to ancient times filled with colorful lanterns, a full moon on the rise, and the fragrance of peach blossoms in the wind. Then taste the wonderful dribble down your chin, that sweet nectar of the Gods, and enjoy the moment.

Uncle Paul, along with his wife Calla, owns Uncle Paul’s European Style Open Air Produce Market, 2310 SE Hawthorne, 503-484-8612 or visit www.unclepaulsproduce.com