The peach is a deciduous tree native to the region of Northwest China. The tree produces an edible juicy fruit also known as a peach or a nectarine. In the real sense, the peach is a drupe.
It belongs to the genus Prunus. This makes the peach a close relative of the cherry, apricot, almond, and plum. The tree grows up to 25 to 30 feet tall.
The peach and the almond are classified in the subgenus Amygdalus. It is remarkable in that the stone found in the fruit is used to make a cheaper version of marzipan called persipan.
The difference between peaches and nectarines is the hairy skin found on peaches. The fruits usually grow to the size of a small apple. It measures about 7-10 cm in diameter and weighs about 130-160 grams.
The fruit bears a soft, juicy, sweet and tart flesh with a fruity aroma. The color of the flesh tends to be white to creamy-yellow color with a centrally placed single stone.
Peaches are available all year round, however, the best season for them is between May and October. When selecting fruit in the marketplaces, avoid fruit which is excessively soft, contains cuts and bruises. You should also avoid peaches which have mold, discoloration or rot.
Relatively hard mature fruits can be stored at room temperature. There they will tend to ripen over a few days. Ripe fruit, on the other hand, should be stored in a refrigerator.
Dried peaches can be found in grocery stores in addition to fresh fruit.
The top producers of peaches in the world are China, the European Union, Spain, Italy, the United States, and Iran among others.
Enjoying the Delicate Peach as a Food
Before eating, the peach fruits should be washed under cold running water to remove dirt, pests or pesticide residue. The peaches can be eaten whole as a snack remembering to discard the seed.
Depending on the use, you can peel the skin with a paring knife. The flesh with pit removed can be sliced and a few drops of lemon juice squeezed over to prevent the fruit pulp from turning brown.
Peach sections are a great addition to fruit salads
A salad is a mixture of small to medium pieces of ready to eat ingredients mixed together and topped with a sauce or dressing. They are preferred cold with few exceptions served warm. The dressing is usually sweet and sour in nature or can be salted and spiced. Salad ingredients range widely but most commonly they include vegetables, fruits, cooked... More, fruit cocktails, pies, baklava, charlottes, tarts, desserts
A dessert is the last course of a meal usually consisting of sweetened foods and beverages like dessert wine and liqueur. It may also include some savory items like coffee, cheese, and nuts. The sweetened food can include those commonly eaten savory such as rice. Foods included usually eaten as dessert courses include cake, cookie, pastry, ice cream, pudding, custard... More, jams, and jellies among others.
Health and Nutritional Benefits
The peach contains just 39 calories
A calorie is a unit of energy used in several fields. It is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius at one atmospheric pressure or the pressure at sea level. When relating to food, Calories with capital "C", also known as the food calorie the same energy as 1000... More per 100 grams. it is a good source of dietary fiber
Fiber also referred to as dietary fiber or roughage is the indigestible portion of food derived from plants. It comes either soluble in water or insoluble. They are normally resistant to absorption in the human digestive tract. They are found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. It helps increase bulk in ingested foods, softens stool and shortens the total time... More and contains no cholesterol and saturated fats.
Peaches are rich in minerals and vitamins as well as antioxidants. These fruits contain reasonable amounts of Vitamin AVitamin A is a group of unsaturated nutritional organic compounds like retinol, retinoic acid provitamin A carotenoids like beta-carotene and is important for growth, immune system and good vision especially in low-light and color vision. It can be found in several foods including liver, cod liver oil, carrot, green vegetables, butter, milk sweet potato, Cheese and fish among others.... More, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E. They also have moderate amounts of Vitamin K, Folates
Folates are also known as Folic acid or vitamin B9 is good for DNA synthesis and is essential for alleviating Anemia and in pregnant women infant neural tube defects. It is a water-soluble vitamin. Folic acid can be found naturally in leafy green vegetables. Steam cooking helps retain more of the vitamin during cooking. You can also get it from... More, and NiacinNiacin is also known as Nicotinic acid or vitamin B3 and is useful for the prevention of nausea, skin and mouth lesions, anemia, headaches and exhaustion. It is also useful in the regulation of high cholesterol in the system. It an be found mainly in protein foods like liver, chicken, beef, fish, cereal, peanuts and legumes.... More. Also included in moderate amount is Pantothenic acidPantothenic acid is also known as vitamin B5. It is a water soluble vitamin used by animals to synthesize coenzyme-A (CoA), as well as to metabolize proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Major food sources include dried mushrooms, liver, dried egg yolks and sunflower seeds among others. Pantothenic acid deficiency is extremely rare but symptoms include impaired energy production, irritability, fatigue, and... More, PyridoxinePyridoxine is also known as pyridoxol or vitamin B6 and can be gotten from fruit, vegetables, and grains. It helps prevent confusion, ulcerations, conjuctivitis, intertigo and neuropathy among others. Alcoholics and the elderly are usually the demographics that tend to have increased risk of vitamin B6 deficiency.... More, RiboflavinRiboflavin is also known as vitamin B2 helps prevent migraines and is good for cellular respiration. It can be found in eggs, milk, meat and green vegetables. Deficiency results in symptoms similar to Pellagra. Others include chapped lips, red tongue, sore throat, inflammation of the mouth and scaly rashes on private parts.... More, and ThiaminThiamin, Thiamine or Vitamin B1 helps prevent disorders like beriberi and korsakoff's syndrome and can lead to metabolic coma and death. Yeast, yeast extract, pork, whole grain brown bread and other cereals are good sources of vitamin B1.... More.
As for minerals, they are rich in copper, potassium, fluoride, and iron. They also contain moderate amounts of magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and zinc.
Wiki Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peach
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