When we were in Italy in October the grape harvest was coming to an end and the first process of making wine was underway. It's a busy time of the year as following on from the grape harvest is the gathering of the olives. Our neighbours and relatives were in the olive groves around the area harvesting their olives before taking it to be processed into olive oil at the local oil mill press.
We went to visit Mr P's sister to thank her and her husband for the wine - below- that they had given us (2017 harvest) and found my brother-in-law pressing this year's grapes.
The olive trees in their garden were laden with olives. Later when most of them were gathered and pressed this year's yield was 20 litres just from these few trees. Others were gathered and preserved for eating.
After lunch we were offered an unusual fruit which had been given to my sister-in-law by a niece from trees growing on her land. I've never seen them before so was curious to try one. My sister-in-law calls this fruit faiola. (I made a note, but I'm not sure of the spelling). Apparently it's a S. American plant (feijoa) which grows in the mountain areas of S. Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and Argentina.
The white, gelatinous flesh inside has a slight fragrance. It can be scooped out from the green skin with a teaspoon. I found that the ripe fruit also had a faintly perfumed flavour and it was very different from anything I'd ever tasted before.
The orange fruit is a home grown persimmon.
The orange fruit is a home grown persimmon.
Finally, below is a loquat tree in our garden. It's an evergreen shrub or tree indigenous to south-eastern China. In October there were clusters of flowers that will gradually develop into the fruit that will be ripe in late Springtime.
The ripening fruit in April/May
As well as eaten fresh the loquat is used to make pies, jam or jelly or can be preserved in a light syrup.
Today I'm joining in Riitta's Friday Bliss linkup
Happy Thanksgiving Day to all who are enjoying a national holiday at this time.