Egypt's warm sunny climate helps farmers grow several crops of fruits and vegetables per year. It is not surprising that the diet of residents is more than 65% seasonal fruits and vegetables.
The market stalls in Egypt are always littered with fresh fruit. Arriving on vacation in this country, you can stock up on vitamins for the whole year in advance.
However, many fruit plants in Egypt have their own seasonality. Local residents are well aware of this, and we will try to tell tourists what time of the year and which fruits in Egypt are worth trying.
Familiar Citrus and Banana
For a long time no one was surprised by the abundance of oranges or grapefruits in our supermarkets. However, oranges and tangerines grown in hot Egypt are distinguished by a peculiar sweet and sour taste and thin peel. If you get to the surroundings of Alexandria in winter, you can enjoy the delicate aroma of tangerine trees.
Relatively recently beloved by Russians, limes growing in Egypt all year round, Arabs have long been serving soups and seafood.
And besides the usual for us among the fruits of Egypt, red bananas are surprising. They are smaller and their skin is reddish-brown or purple. The taste of these fruits is also a little unusual, more pronounced and a bit reminiscent of strawberries. The delicate pink pulp of these fruits is rich in potassium and vitamins C and B.
Almost all year round in this country you can enjoy grapes, strawberries and watermelons. However, some exotic fruits of Egypt have a pronounced seasonality. It is during these months that they are the most wholesome and most delicious. It remains only to choose.
What to eat in the winter
In our country, the beginning of the year is associated with snow and snowstorms, and in Egypt it is the harvesting period of strawberries, dates, pomegranates, physalis and guava.
If everyone knows about dates and pomegranates, then the fruits of physalis are found only in the tropics. These fruits of Egypt look a bit like cherries, only in amber yellow. Fruits contain a lot of beneficial elements and acids that have a beneficial effect on health. However, many berries should not be eaten, because of a habit, the stomach can be upset, and rest will be ruined.
Large, about 10-15 centimeters, guava fruits begin to be harvested in November. The spherical fruit is covered with a rough peel. It may seem dense, although it is actually very thin and is considered useful. Inside the pulp are many small hard bones.
Locals never eat the overripe guava fruit. Only slightly soft specimens are used. Depending on the variety, the guava mixes the familiar taste of raspberries or wild strawberries with a slight smack of needles from the rind.
Watermelons and medlar
In spring, the number of seasonal fruits increases. On the shelves there are still a lot of ripe strawberries, citrus fruits and pomegranates. However, the guava harvest season in April is drawing to a close.
Instead, watermelons begin to ripen en masse. They are sweet and juicy in Egypt with small seeds. There is one caveat: when choosing a watermelon, do not be shy - examine the fruit from all sides. The fact is that the Egyptians do not stand on ceremony during the collection of watermelons and throw heavy balls at random. And with such heat, the cracked fruit almost immediately begins to deteriorate and wander.
In late April, medlar begins to appear on market stalls. In the photo of these fruits of Egypt (see above), it can be seen that in shape they resemble an elongated apple, only the fruits grow in clusters. The taste is a little unusual, reminiscent of a pear and hawthorn at the same time. The fruits of medlar have many medicinal properties, not without reason in hot countries they have been grown for more than a thousand years.
By the way, the most delicious cherries ripen in May-June. Of course, in the menu of hotels there are cherries all year round, but it is in the spring that these berries are the most juicy.
Summer abundance
In the summer, many names of Egyptian fruits may make you dizzy. Grapes, local peaches, apricots, cherries. The first melons begin to appear. They are small in Egypt, weighing about a kilogram. Due to the fact that they are harvested a bit unripe, Egyptian melons are inferior to the usual Uzbek ones to taste. Although you still need to try and compare.
In June, a long mango season begins. These fruits, which we consider exotic, grow in Egypt from June to October. Depending on the variety (and there are more than a dozen of them grown in this country), the weight of mangoes can reach two kilograms. Ripe fruits are very aromatic and tasty, the pulp is slightly fibrous and just melts in your mouth. The Egyptians themselves, out of the abundance of mango varieties, prefer Timor, which ripens towards the end of summer.
Short fruit seasons
Some of the tastiest fruits in Egypt come and go very quickly. This applies to figs, persimmons and pears, which the locals adore.
Pear residents of our country can not be surprised, and the delicate fig fruits, in addition to a pleasant taste, are still very rich in useful substances. In ancient Egypt, figs (they are also called figs) together with grapes and olives formed the basis of the daily diet.
The ripe fig fruits are very tender, it is better to eat them immediately on the spot, because they can not withstand transportation to the hotel. It is better to choose small fruits of a dark color, they will be the most delicious.
A similar problem with ripe persimmons. This fruit is very loved in Egypt. Its flesh literally melts in the mouth. However, there is a slight nuance with taste: some varieties of persimmons have an astringent, bitter taste. To get rid of this, the fruits need to be frozen for several hours. If you want to bring exotic persimmons home, it is better to choose solid, unripe fruits, which will then mature, after lying in a dark place.
A selection of mangoes and grapes
August is traditionally considered the height of the mango season. Without exaggeration, we can say that all the counters are filled with different varieties of this fruit. Especially tasty are mangoes of the Timor variety, which is also called Egyptian, and small, up to two hundred grams, fruits of the Hindi variety. They are distinguished by rich yellow color and a very pleasant taste and aroma.
At this time, grapes and local peaches finally ripen. Of course, peaches are sold in Egypt all year round, but more often they are imported. And the local variety, small fruits with a whitish peel and pulp, will pleasantly surprise you with a sweet taste.
From ancient times, from the abundance of vegetables and fruits in Egypt, grapes are popular. And this is not surprising: fructose contained in berries quickly gives a feeling of fullness, and dried berries can be stored for a very long time. Almost all varieties grown in Egypt are distinguished by the absence of seeds, so they can even be given to babies without fear.
Autumn Vitamin Paradise
On the shelves there are no longer local sweet cherries, figs and pears. But then a fresh crop of physalis and pomegranates appeared. These fruits are well known in our country. However, in Egypt, pomegranates are especially sweet and juicy. The good news is that at the beginning of the pomegranate season, prices are not at all high, and the choice is simply huge. In addition, in Egypt they just love to bargain!
Around October, merchants begin to actively offer estu - an unusual fruit that looks like a round greenish cone. The Egyptians call it the "sweet apple" and simply adore it. The taste of esta is rather difficult to describe. Someone feels a banana, someone strawberries, kiwi, yogurt and even cream. In any case, it’s worth a try!
What kind of fruits grow in Egypt? Often not only tasty, but also beneficial to the body. For example, eating esta helps prevent cancer, pomegranate strengthens the walls of blood vessels and increases hemoglobin levels. And our usual dates are so popular in Egypt that they are considered a panacea for most diseases.
By the way, the date season also begins in the fall. Unusual, but the taste of ripe fruits is a little tart and astringent - a dubious pleasure. And the usual dried dates are much sweeter and more pleasant. Although the locals prefer fresh and consume them in large quantities.
Where to choose fruits
In a small article it is impossible to list and show all the names and photos of the fruits of Egypt, there are too many of them. However, the hotel administration does not often pamper guests with fresh local fruits, offering inexpensive imported ones.
Therefore, for new tastes and experiences it is worth going to the grocery market. Of course, there is always noisy and crowded. However, there is an opportunity to try, carefully select each berry and bargain with the seller. If you try, the declared price can be reduced several times.
Markets located near hotels or in places visited by tourists are overpriced. Therefore, it is better to combine a walk around the city with a selection of fruits and observe where the locals buy them.
Travel Tips
Often the administration of hotels in Egypt forbids taking fruits, regardless of type, to tourists, but tourists say that most fruits, except perhaps a large watermelon, can be discreetly carried. The only question is the ethics and expediency of such an act.
It is very hot in this country, damaged fruits and vegetables can deteriorate quickly. In addition, local residents are not too concerned about hygiene. Therefore, before eating, all purchased fruits must be washed thoroughly.
I'd like to try as many exotic unfamiliar fruits as possible, but experienced travelers are not advised to get involved. Some fruits may cause an allergic reaction or indigestion. It’s better not to try more than one new product per day.
In Egypt, juices are very popular in which three types of different fruits are mixed. The seller takes turns preparing the fresh juices, pours them in layers into the glass and does not mix. It turns out a delicious vitamin "traffic light", which the kids really like.
You can bring ripe pomegranate fruits, a little hard mango, exotic estu or immature persimmon to bring home from a sunny country. More delicate fruits are better to feast on while relaxing.