Facts about Apricots
The apricot tree is a small tree, 8–12 m tall, with a trunk up to 40 cm diameter and a dense, spreading canopy. As early as the year 502, apricot seeds were used to treat tumors. Egyptians usually dry apricot and sweeten it then use it to make a drink called "'amar al-din". In Europe, apricots were long considered an aphrodisiac, and were used in this context in William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, and as an inducer of childbirth, as depicted in John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi. The introduction of apricot to Greece is attributed to Alexander the Great, and the Roman General Lucullus (106-57 B.C.E.) also exported some trees, cherry, white heart cherry and apricot from Armenia to Europe. In The Wizard of Oz, the Cowardly Lion sings, "What puts the ape in the apricot? Courage!" An apricot tree can tolerate winter temperatures as cold as -30 °C or lower if healthy. In the 17th century apricot oil was used in England against tumors and ulcers. Among American tank-driving soldiers, apricots are taboo, by superstition. Tankers will not eat apricots, allow apricots onto their vehicles, and often will not even say the word "apricot". This superstition stems from Sherman tank breakdowns purportedly happening in the presence of cans of apricots. In Armenia it was known from ancient times, having been brought along the Silk Road. As of 2005, Turkey was the leading appricot producing nation with 390,000 tons of apricot according to the UN Food & Agriculture Organisation. According to the UN Food & Agriculture Organisation 1,916,000 tons of apricot were produced world wide in the year 2005. Pakistan produced 220,000 tons of apricot in 2005. Research shows that of any food, apricots possess the highest levels and widest variety of carotenoids. The fact that Apricot season is very short has given rise to the very common Egyptian Arabic expression "fil-mishmish ("in apricot [season]"), generally uttered as a riposte to an unlikely prediction, or as a rash promise to fulfill a request. |
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