Apricots in Focus
WHAT THEY ARE, WHERE THEY GROW AND HOW TO USE THEM
APRICOTS in Focus
Sweet, tender and delicious, apricots are a spring-summer favourite. The small drupes are part of the Rosaceae family and are closely related to peaches, plums and cherries (the Rosaceae family actually has around 3,400 species within it!); they are also fantastic to use in both sweet and savoury dishes.
The origins of the apricot are disputed; it was known in Armenia in ancient times and its cultivation there inspired its Latin name, Prunus armeniaca, which means Armenian plum. But many other sources agree that it is native to North-Eastern China and has been growing there since 3,000 BC. Nowadays, though, the apricot can be seen growing in many temperate climates, including North, Central and South America, and Australia.