Fruit of quince

The quince tree is native to a wide area that includes Caucasus, Transcaucasia and Central Asia. Nowadays, there are still wild quince plants in Dagestan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenia and Iran.

Quince, Cydonia oblonga Mill. is one of the most important pome fruit species in the Rosaceae family. The genus Cydoniais monospecific and includes only a single species.

During ancient times, quince spread from its centre of origin to the east, to the region of the Himalaya Mountains, and has been cultivated for thousands of years in central Asia and in the Middle East. It was also grown on the islands of ancient Greece.

The ancient Biblical name for quince translates as “Golden Apple” and cultivation of Cydonia predates cultivation of Malus (apple) in the region once known as Mesopotamia, now Iraq.

Leaves are ovate to oblong, about 5 cm across and 10 cm long. Quince has hermaphroditic flowers. The solitary white flowers are 4–5 cm across, have 5 petals, 20 or more stamens, 5 styles, and an inferior ovary with many ovules Stamens are composed of a large number of filaments (15–20) and light-yellow anthers, which are arranged in three circular rows.

The fruit pulp varies in colour, density, juiciness, flavour, presence of granulation (stony cells) and taste. Most varieties are too hard, astringent and sour to eat raw unless 'bletted' (softened by frost and subsequent decay). Some cultivars have little or no astringency and the fruit can be eaten fresh.

This sweet, fragrant, jellylike confection is cut into slices and often served with a heady cheese. Quince is also served poached in either water or wine, and when so prepared develops a rich aroma and deep caramel-red color. In Armenia, quince is used in many savory as well as sweet dishes, and is often cooked with lamb. Quince fruit is also used by some home brewers to make very fine hard ciders.

Quince fruit is a valuable dietary product. The fruit contains good amount of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), pectins (fibers) and minerals and low in calories, carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. The fruit—always cooked—was an important source of pectin for food preservation, and a fragrant addition to jams, juices, pies, and candies.

Fruit of quince

Banana peel

Banana peel is an energy-rich carbohydrate substrate for single-cell protein production for food and feed.

In traditional medicine, banana peels have been reported to be useful against cancer and heart disease since these peels are rich in gallocatechin, and important antioxidant involved in the prevention of these diseases.

The banana peel, which is the waste from banana processing, is also term as banana waste. These wastes can be utilized for the production of ligninolytic enzymes.

Banana skin has been used as a support-substrate for the production of extracellular laccase by the white-rot fungus Trametes pubescens.

It was reported that alcohol can be produced from banana peels by subjecting the material to saccharification treatment using either sulfuric acid, steam under pressure or cellulase. The fermentation was carried out with Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. ellipsoideus.

For certain people, banana peel can be eaten, usually grated fried and mixed with black eyed peas.

The green banana peel contains about 50-100 ug/g fresh weight of chlorophyll, 5-7 ug/g fresh weight of xanthophyll and 1,5-3.5 ug/g fresh weight of carotene.

Banana peels also known for their antifungal and antibiotic propertied as well as being loaded with vitamin and minerals.

During ripening, chlorophylls lost, and total yellow pigment remains approximately constant.

Chlorophylls activity in banana peels increases sharply at the onset of the climacteric rises to a peak which coincides with the climacteric peak, and then falls to near zero in the post climacteric period.
Banana peel

The story of almond (Prunus dulcis)

The story of almond (Prunus dulcis)
Almonds are native of Middle East and were probably abundant in ancient times, since they are mentioned several times in the bible.

The Hebrew name for the almond, shakud, means “hasty awakening,” which probably derives from its prolific and fragrant bloom in late winter, ahead of most other orchard species.

Aaron’s rod was made of almond wood, and Jewish people often carry blooming almond branches to synagogues for festivals.

Ancient pagans thought almonds symbolized virginity. Some even used almonds as an emblem of the Virgin Mary.

While symbolizing virginity, almonds were also used as fertility charms and marriage blessings.

Italians used to distribute almonds at wedding as tokens of fruitfulness.

The almond was referred to as the “womb of the world,” suggestive of its supposed both birth-bringing powers.

Reference to the flowering almond in older poetry often meant “hope” according to “the language of flowers.”

However, almond trees have a somewhat conflicting symbolism: giddiness, heedlessness, stupidity, indiscretion, and thoughtlessness.

Almonds were left in King Tutankhamen’s tomb to provide nourishment in his afterlife.

Almonds branches were used as divining rods in Tuscany, Italy.

Almonds have been used as a folk remedy for cancers, tumors, ulcers, corns and calluses. Almonds were thought to prevent intoxication from drinking too much alcohol.

As with other members of Prunus, bitter almonds contain cyanogenic glycosides in seeds, bark and leaves; of eaten in large quantities, they can cease convulsions and death. About 50 to 70 bitter almonds cause death in adults; seven to ten can cause death in children, while three can cause severe poisoning. The sweet almonds of commerce do not contain these compounds.

Phloretin is an antibiotic-like compound found in bark and root extracts; in concentrate form, phloretin can kill certain bacteria.

The major nonfood usage of almond is for oil. Almond oil is highly valued for used in cosmetics and creams, and bitter almond oil is used as an essential oil. The oil is sued to treat various forms of dermatitis.
The story of almond (Prunus dulcis)

Cashew Apples and Cashew Nuts – the History

Cashew Apples and Cashew Nuts – the History
Brazilian Indian use of cashew nuts and apples is well documented in French, Portuguese and Dutch accounts between 1550 and 1650. The Tupi name acaju became caju in Portuguese and cashew in English.

The juice of the cashew apple has been and still is fermented to make wine. In 1558, Thevet published a drawing of Indians harvesting what were unmistakably cashew fruits and squeezing the juice from apples.

The cashew was probably spread by the Indians as a dooryard garden tree, but there is nor record of systematic planting. It may have been spread by prehistoric Indians into Guianas and eastern Venezuela.

It was probably a dooryard garden plant of the Caribs in the Lesser Antilles. It was not among the plants of the Arawaks of the Greater Antilles, nor was it in Colombia, Central America, or Mexico at the time of the Spanish Conquest. First Spanish accounts were from Venezuela in the mid 16th century.

The Indians roasted cashew nuts in open fires, burning off the caustic shell oil. The Portuguese were quick to adopt the simple Indian techniques of roasting the nuts and making wine from the cashew apples. They occasionally sent some nuts to Lisbon as early as the mid-17th century.

By 1750, cashews quickly were widely planted throughout tropical America, not just for the nuts but as a multiple-purpose garden tree. It made a fine dooryard shade tree, provided the lower branches were pruned.

It was evergreen and pest free, the sap of the trunk should be tapped for an insect repellent, protective varnish. The cashew apple yielded tasty, fresh juice and could be made into preserves. The wine could be distilled for brandy. Excess volunteer trees were cut for firewood and charcoal. Commercial cashew plantations in tropical America were not begun until the 20th century.

Meanwhile, the species had become pantropical. The Portuguese introduced it into India in the 1560s, perhaps more as a source of wine and brandy than for the nuts. Cashew trees were reported in gardens of Cochin on the Malabar Coast and Goa in the 1570s and 1580s. Four hundred years later India remained the world’s main producer of cashew liquor at a rate of about 250,000 gallons a year.
Cashew Apples and Cashew Nuts – the History