loquat
The loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) is a fruit tree in the subfamily
Maloideae of the family Rosaceae, indigenous to southeastern China.
The loquat is comparable with its distant relative, the apple, in many
aspects, with a high sugar, acid and pectin content. It is eaten as a
fresh fruit and mixes well with other fruits in fresh fruit salads or
fruit cups. Firm, slightly immature fruits are best for making pies or
tarts. The fruits are also commonly used to make jam, jelly, and
chutney, and are delicious poached in light syrup.
A type of loquat syrup is used in Chinese medicine for soothing the throat like a cough drop. Combined with other ingredients and known as pipa gao (枇杷膏; pinyin: pípágāo; literally "loquat paste"), it acts as a demulcent and an expectorant, as well as to soothe the digestive and respiratory systems. Loquats can also be used to make wine.
Like most related plants, the seeds (pips) and young leaves of the
plant are slightly poisonous, containing small amounts of cyanogenetic
glycocides which release cyanide when digested, though the low
concentration and bitter flavour normally prevents enough being eaten
to cause harm.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loquat#Description
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