National Apricot Day

Apricots ripen in early summer but they are usually dried so that we can enjoy them all year round. The word “apricot” is 'precious' in Latin but further investigation revealed that although the moniker is appropriate, it actually comes from the Arabic 'al barqūq' ("early ripening") via French 'abricot'.

“Early ripe” is exactly suitable because apricots are often ripen earlier than most summer fruits. Drying apricots has been a popular preservation method for centuries. Most store-bought apricots retain their bright orange color when ripe. Organic dried apricots will have a browner and bright orange color which is an indication that the fruit has been treated with sulfur compounds.

Interesting Facts About National Apricot Day

Apricot belongs to the genus whose scientific name is Prunus.

Recorded evidence suggests that it was earlier denoted "abrecock" in the 16th century.

European settlers, first cultivated in Virginia by English colonists, then spread by Spaniards who settled in the western counties of the United States introduced apricots to America. to the western counties of the United States.

The origin of apricots is not clearly settled between Armenia, China and India. However, it is believed that apricots originated in Armenia. The scientific name of the apricot is “Prunus armeniaca” says the same thing. However, some botanists argue that it may have originated in China or India. remains the national fruit of Armenia.

Apricots are also grown in Persian countries and are considered an important commodity especially in Iran.

Around the 17th century, the oil, extracted from apricotswas used to treat ulcers, swellings and tumors in continental Europe mainly in England.

In the United States, it is produced commercially in states such as California, Utah, and Washington. California comes out on top compared to Utah and Washington.

The main producer of apricots is Uzbekistan, which accounts for about 16% of the world production. Other prominent producers are Turkey, Iran, Italy, Algeria, Pakistan and Spain contributing a significant proportion. The main producer of dried apricots is Turkey.

A hybrid of apricots and cherry plums called purple apricots or black apricots is quite famous. Other notable hybrids are ariplums, plums, and more.

For commercial purposes, the fruit is dried and treated with sulfur dioxide, because of this the color will turn a vivid orange, on the contrary, the color will be slightly darker.

History of National Apricot Day

According to what we can find in this regard, the apricot tree was domesticated in China about 4,000 years ago. From there, the apricots traveled throughout Asia to the Mediterranean region. The Spanish Conquistadores introduced apricots to the Americas in the 16th century, planting trees throughout what is now the west coast of the United States.

Today, although the United States is not among the top producers of apricots globally, 95% of apricots grown in the United States come from the San Joaquin Valley in California. Apricots are delicious, healthy and should be eaten whenever possible. So you should enjoy apricots to celebrate these wonderful golden fruits.

How to celebrate Apricot Day

Obviously we're just telling you to go out and buy dried apricots and take them home to eat. So, instead, what we're suggesting is an umbrella-themed day where you incorporate apricots into a variety of foods and maybe even celebrate with some Barack (apricot wine, not apricots, no. right Obama.. Though if you're in contact with him, why not invite him to a party tomorrow?). Apricots are rich in nutrients, so you can't really overeat. They can be used in more ways than you think, so get creative.

While we don't know if they celebrate any kind of Tomorrow in China, we would say that apricots have something to do with education and medicine there. The classical word 杏壇 literally means “altar of plum blossoms” and is still commonly used in written language to describe an educational circle.

There is a story that Confucius taught his students to be surrounded by a grove of apricot trees, so we would imagine that a strong and enduring image of a philosopher teaching his students would lead to popular meaning of education in Chinese society several centuries later.

While we already know that apricots are pretty good for you, traditional Chinese medicine has gone a step further and uses apricot seeds quite comfortably. Since the Chinese are said to have domesticated the apricot tree, it is only fitting that it also carries a meaning there.

Fresh apricots are very delicious, nutritious, should be eaten whenever possible. Dried apricots are almost as delicious and can be kept all year round. Tomorrow doesn't seem to fall into the apricot season, but we still recommend going for some apricots in celebration.

There are so many other ways you can celebrate Tomorrow. Why not grow your own apricot tree in your garden? This is a fun activity and it will allow you to produce your own delicious apricots, instead of having to buy them from the store. Of course, if you live in an apartment, this won't be possible in most cases, so why not support a local grower in the area instead of buying from one of the big supermarkets?

There are also a lot of delicious and amazing apricot recipes that you can create this day. This includes some delicious desserts, such as white chocolate and apricot cheesecake, apricot shortbread, as well as apricot, cinnamon and olive oil cake. O mai apricot is not only used in desserts, but it is often a feature in appetizers and main courses. It really works with goat cheese. You will also find that it is commonly used in Moroccan cuisine, as it is a frequent feature in savory dishes. We're sure you won't have a hard time finding lots of fun umami recipes online for this day!

Don't forget to end the day by celebrating with an Apricot cocktail. We've seen some really cool cocktail recipes online that include apricots or apricot syrup. They are Apricot and Honey Bourbon Sour cocktail. This includes apricots, apricot syrup, bourbon, lemonade, and mint. It's delicious!