Saturday, January 2, 2010

Preserving loquats



Pictured are the results of two sessions of loquat bottling. My Dad has two loquat trees that produce too much fruit for their needs, especially as they compete with cherries at this time of year! We harvested two bucketfuls and most of them are now preserved. Our friends the Baehrs helped us last night. Preserving bees are the best! It is great to work with others. Today I worked on the remaining bucket on my own, and found the process less arduous than I expected. This year we left on most of the skins. These are tough but will be softer with cooking. Loquats have lots of pits (those pictured are a fraction of what was removed), and right now I'm nursing a sore thumb as a result of pitting them. My fingers are thanking me for choosing not to peel them all! Those who have preserved fruit before will know the satisfaction that looking at the finished product brings.

6 comments:

  1. I love to can fruit and make jam. We made so much strawberry jam this year I'm still passing it out to anyone who comes over to our house. I sent a case of it home with my son to pass out to all of his friends too. It's fun to can and to share it.

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  2. Sherrin, what do they taste like and what ways do you serve them? Blessings!

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  3. preserving bees - sounds great, i'd love to join in sometime!

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  5. Helo Sherrin!
    I'm writing to you from a television production company from Wales (UK). We are currently looking to produce an Item on our TV series about Loquats and are finding it hard to get any of the fruit! Do you have any of the fresh fruit left growing? have you any whole fruits frozen o'r preserved? even the seeds would be of use to us if you have any of them left from removing the seeds when preserving? Maybe you know of someone in your area who sells Loquat or any kind of preserved Loquat product? Thanks Very much for your help, God Bless you.

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  6. Hello Eira, so sorry I have not replied earlier. Sadly my father's trees had a very poor crop last year so we did not preserve any. They will not be in season again in December, if you would like to be in touch again closer to the time! I don't know anyone else who grows them.
    God bless in your documentary - I hope you find what you need.

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