BUYER'S GUIDE: Asian/Exotics - 3rd Apr-10th Apr
Market update on Asian and Exotic produce lines:
Asian Vegetables: Expensive
Thai Basil
Asian Vegetables: Short Supply
Asian Celery * Een Choy * Gai Choy * Ong Choy * Thai Eggplant * Water Spinach
Asian Vegetables: Not Available
Kachay * Tamarind
Exotic Fruits: Short Supply
Rambutan * Tamarillo (red)
Exotic Fruits: Not Available
Asian Plum * Buddha Hands * Cumquats * Green Mangoes * Loquats * Lychee * Red Pomellos * Tamarillo (gold) * Tangelos
BUYER'S GUIDE: Asian/Exotics - 27th March - 2nd April
Market update on Asian and Exotic produce lines:
Asian Vegetables: Expensive
Thai Basil
Asian Vegetables: Short Supply
Een Choy - Gai Choy - Ong Choy - Thai Eggplant - Water Spinach
Asian Vegetables: Not Available
Kachay - Tamarind
Exotic Fruits: Not Available
Asian Plum - Buddha Hands - Cumquats - Green Mangoes - Loquats - Lychee - Red Pomellos - Tamarillo (red/gold) - Tangelos
BUYER'S GUIDE: Asian/Exotics - 20th March - 26th March
With the rain impacting local ground grown crops i.e. asian leaf lines at the moment, here is our buyer's guide to what's missing or rare at the markets.
Asian Vegetables: Short Supply
Een Choy - Gai Choy - Ong Choy - Water Spinach
Asian Vegetables: Not Available
Jicama - Kachay - Tamarind
Exotic Fruits: Not Available
Asian Plum - Cumquats - Green Mangoes - Loquats - Lychee - Red Pomellos - Tamarillo (red/gold) - Tangelos
ESCAPE TO THE TROPICS
Q: Have exotic fruits been impacted by the recent rain?
With stonefruit winding up over the next few weeks and melons suffering with the rain, you can be forgiven for thinking that there is little inspiration when it comes to fruit this Autumn. Luckily, we have some of the world’s most interesting fruits waiting at the markets, ready to bring exotic colours and flavours to your Autumn menu.
CARAMBOLA: Star Fruit, 5 corner, Bilimbing, Yang Tao
Availability: Available all year- peak production April/May, Jul/Oct, Dec/Jan
Shape: distinctive 5 wings
Skin: waxy green-yellow
Flesh: transparent- yellow to white
Flavour: crisp, juicy - sweet (yellow) to slightly tart (green). The edges/tips of the wings have the most acid/tannins and are therefore the most astringent
Selection: firm bright fruit with clean, waxy skin
Preparation: can be eaten fresh - slicing achieves the distinctive star shape for platters, salads, desserts and seafood dishes
CUSTARD APPLE: aka Atemoya, Cherimoya
Availability: March - September (peak - May/June)
Shape: heart shaped with nodules
Skin: green - yellow smooth skin
Flesh: creamy white - yellow
Flavour: rich, juicy and sweet
Selection: bruise easily therefore buy when still hard to touch and ripen over 2-3 days. Ripe fruit is light green-yellow with pale yellow skin between the nodules, it should yield to gentle pressure (like an avocado)
Preparation: slice in half and scoop out flesh to enjoy raw or alternatively use in ice-cream, sorbet, desserts, cakes or as a soothing accompaniment to spicy dishes
DRAGON FRUIT: aka Pitaya, Pitahaya
Availability: October - April (Red), All Year (White)
Shape: large oval (150-600g)
Skin: pink - red with fleshy green scales
Flesh: there are two varieties, red or white flesh both with lots of tiny edible black seeds
Flavour: crisp, refreshing, sweet flavour- White has kiwi/melon undertones, Red a hint of raspberry
Selection: look for bright fruit that gives slightly under pressure
Preparation: chill then slice in half and scoop out flesh to enjoy raw or use can be used in marmalades, jellies or drinks
MANGOSTEEN:
Availability: February to April
Shape: round, slightly flat on top
Skin: reddish purple - black
Flesh: white - creamy pink
Flavour: juicy, with subtle, sweet flavour with a hint of acid
Selection: mangosteens don’t ripen after harvest so buy mature fruit with no significant imperfections of the skin. A healthy green steam indicates freshness, the skin should yield slightly under gentle pressure
Preparation: either place fruit in palm of hand (stem up) and press gently until shell opens or cut carefully round the skin effectively ‘removing the cap’ of the fruit
NB: Yellow mangosteens do sometimes come to the markets. Deep yellow when mature and similar in size to a mandarin, they are frequently sour and should be prepared differently
PERSIMMON:
There are two types of Persimmon, the traditional ‘Astringent’ variety and the ‘Sweet’ variety. Sweet Persimmon introduced in the ‘70s now accounts for approx. 70% of Persimmon production
Availability: late February - June
Preparation: discard stem and enjoy, handle carefully
Astringent Persimmon:
Shape: large, heart shape
Skin: orange
Flesh: orange
Flavour: when mature they are very sweet however very unpleasant if eaten too early
Selection: Buy firm, then allow to ripen until the flesh is soft and jelly-like
Sweet Persimmon: aka Fuji Fruit, Fuyu Fruit
Shape: round with a somewhat flat top
Skin: orange
Flesh: orange
Flavour: mild, sweet flavour
Selection: Should be bought when crisp and crunchy. When fresh, best enjoyed like an apple, otherwise can be used when soft/mature in cooking
POMEGRANATE:
Availability: February - May
Shape: round
Skin: thick red - purple
Flesh: white astringent pulp which houses the edible, jelly like, red seeds of the fruit
Flavour: sweet to slightly tart
Selection: bigger (and heavier) is best, as the seeds will be larger and juicier
Preparation: Either cut into segments and peel open to reveal seeds or cut in two, score each half 4-5 times, hold over a bowl and hit the rind until the seeds fall out, dig out any remaining seeds. Seeds will also separate from the pulp easily in water
RAMBUTAN:
Availability: December - May
Shape: oval to oblong (approx 5cm in diameter)
Skin: thick skin covered in soft, spiky hairs that are green when immature and red/scarlet when ripe
Flesh: translucent - white covering a single seed (some varieties are freestone)
Flavour: juicy, sweet with a touch of acid
Selection: buy firm, bright fruit with firm spines (not brittle)
Preparation: delicious fresh (like their kin Lychees/Longans) however can also be used for sorbets/jams. Rambutans are also refresh the palate between dishes
A: Exotic fruits are faring considerably well, though there has been some impact on supply. Of the lines listed above, Mangosteens are currently in shorter supply and up in price, while other lines are showing only minor quality issues.
BUYER'S GUIDE: Asian/Exotics - 6th Mar - 12th Mar
With the rain impacting local ground grown crops i.e. asian leaf lines at the moment, here is our buyer's guide to what's missing or rare at the markets.
Asian Vegetables: Short Supply
Gai Choy
Asian Vegetables: Not Available
Jicama - Kachay - Lotus Root - Tamarind - Water Spinach - White Radish
Exotic Fruits: Not Available
Asian Plum - Cumquats - Guava - JuJu Fruit - Kiwifruit (gold) - Loquats - Tamarillo (red) - Tamarillo (gold) - Tangelos
BUYER'S GUIDE: Asian/Exotics - 27th Feb- 3rd March
With the rain impacting local ground grown crops i.e. asian leaf lines at the moment, here is our buyer's guide to what's missing or rare at the markets right now. Other leaf lines are up in price but quality is good.
Asian Vegetables: Short Supply
Gai Choy
Asian Vegetables: Not Available
Kachay - Lotus Root - Tamarind - Water Spinach
Exotic Fruits: Not Available
Asian Plum - Cumquats - Guava - JuJu Fruit - Kiwifruit (gold) - Loquats - Mangosteen - Pomelos (red) - Star Apple - Tamarillo (red) - Tamarillo (gold) - Tangelos
ASIAN MELONS
Q: How do Asian Melons relate to sweeter melon varieties?
If there’s one food trend that is getting a lot of airplay this year, it’s ‘authenticity’. At the heart of the trend is the consumer's preference for traditional cooking methods, flavour combinations and produce- all of which result in an authentic dining experience not easily replicated at home.
The produce markets show clear evidence of this trend, with Asian and exotic produce lines in particular taking up more of the market floor and increasing in abundance. In the spirit of authenticity, we have dedicated our bulletin this week to Asian Melons, which are abundant and fantastic eating at this time of year. Asian Melons are affordable and at their peak in summer, so now is the ideal time to use their unique texture and flavour to full effect.
ASIAN MELON VARIETIES:
CHI QUA: (Hairy Melon, Fuzzy gourd)- staple of the Chinese diet
Appearance: 20-25 cm long cylindrical fruit
Skin: green with fine hairs covering the rind
Look for: HAIR! Hair is a sign of freshness
Storage/Shelf life: Store in a cool place (not fridge) where they will stay fresh for several weeks
Flavour: Mild, not unlike zucchini
Usage: Peel- slice, dice, shred or stuff. Add to soups, steam, stir-fry or bake
DONG QUA: (Winter Melon)- closely related to Chi Qua
Appearance: large and heavy, round to oblong (akin to a watermelon if not bigger)
Skin: green with white blotches, caused by a layer of wax (easily removed)
Storage/Shelf life: whole melons with the wax coat intact will keep for over a month refrigerated, once cut best use them in under a week
Flavour: mild to bland – texture like a zucchini
Usage: holds shape well when cooked- used in may Asian soups, stews and curries. Also, stuffed and baked, pickled and candied
LONG MELON: (opo squash) - closely related to the Hairy Melon
Appearance: thin, large, cylindrical – like a cucumber
Skin: light green with a waxy coating (young melons have fuzz but this is lost with maturity)
Storage/Shelf life: whole melons with the wax coat intact will keep for a week or so, once cut best use them in a few days
Flavour: Similar to zucchini or squash when young however as matures gets more bitter
Usage: Peel- slice, dice, shred or stuff. Add to soups, steam, stir-fry or bake
SZE QUA: (Smooth luffa, Sponge luffa, Sponge Gourd)
Appearance: large, green, cylindrical fruit
Skin: smooth (slightly ribbed) with pale stripes
Storage/Shelf life: Store in a cool place (not fridge) where it will keep for 2-3 weeks
Flavour: mild flavour and slightly spongy texture
Usage: young smooth luffas are used much like a zucchini or squash. Usage varies from soups, stews and curries to drying and frying. Very small fruits can also be eaten raw or pickled
SIN QUA: (Angled luffa, Silk Gourd, Chinese Okra)
Appearance: long, slender fruit, between 15-40cm in length
Skin: 10 deep ridges running from end to end
Storage/Shelf life: while they can be stored for a time, they lose water easily so it is best to use them promptly
Look for: bright, glossy, firm fruit
Flavour: mild flavour and slightly spongy texture. The younger fruits are less fibrous and taste slightly sweeter
Usage: once hard ridges have been removed (potato peeler works a treat) they can be steamed, stir-fried, grated or added to soups or curries
FU QUA: (Bitter Melon, Balsam Pear, Bitter Gourd, Bitter Cucumber)- considered a medicinal fruit due to its high vitamin and mineral content
Appearance: oblong shape
Skin: warty skin with ridges down the length of the fruit. The bumps are characteristic to variety, Chinese/Japanese cuisine tends to favour the smoother light green varieties, while the Vietnamese and Indians prefer the darker, narrower fruit with very prominent ridges and warts
Storage/Shelf life: fruit continues to ripen after harvest and should be used promptly as the more mature the fruit the more bitter it will be. Bitter Melon also emits ethylene and should not be stored with bananas, tomatoes, mango, papaya and guava
Look for: fruit that is uniform of colour (green) and 15-25cm long. As they mature they turn yellow- at this stage they can be nigh on inedible
Flavour: All parts of the bitter melon are extremely ‘bitter’
Usage: While not usually peeled, rough parts of the skin can be scraped off. The pith of the green fruit should be removed as the seeds can have a purgative effect. The bitterness can be eased by salting the flesh and rinsing (like with eggplant). Fu Qua can be boiled, stuffed and baked, steamed, stir-fried or ever used in salads when sliced thinly. Their flavour suits strong flavoured ingredients such as black bean paste, garlic or chilli.
A: They may taste very different but they are all in fact one big happy family. Each of the Asian Melons listed above belong the Cucurbitaceae family which also includes rockmelons, watermelons, muskmelons (honeydew), pumpkin, squash and cucumbers. Despite appearances, the Hairy Melon, Winter Melon and Long Melon are even more closely related, for while they may look very different they are varieties of the same species.
BUYER'S GUIDE: Asian/Exotics - 7th Feb-13th Feb
Vegie lines like Bitter Melon, Luffa, Hairy Melon, Winter Melon and Sin Que all good buying.
Leaf lines showing some signs of weather damage but still in good supply.
Chillies, plenty around so now’s the time to turn up the HEAT!
Asian Vegetables: Not Available
Kachay - Lotus Root - Tamarind - Water Spinach
Exotic Fruits: Not Available
Asian Plum - Buddha Hands - Cumquats - Custard Apple - Fuji Fruit - Guava - JuJu Fruit - Kiwifruit (gold) - Loquats - Persimmon - Pomelos (red) - Star Apple - Tamarillo (red) - Tamarillo (gold) - Tangelos
Exotic Fruits: Short Supply
Mangosteen
BUYER'S GUIDE: Asian/Exotics- 31st Jan- 6th Feb
The good news is that most Asian vegetables and exotic fruits are plentiful at the moment. There are however gaps in the market, so we've listed those items currently not available below:
Asian Vegetables:
Kachay - Lotus Root - Tamarind - Water Spinach
Exotic Fruits:
Asian Plum - Buddha Hands - Cumquats - Custard Apple - Fuji Fruit - Guava - JuJu Fruit - Kiwifruit (gold) - Loquats - Mangosteen - Persimmon - Pomelos (red) - Star Apple - Tamarillo (red) - Tamarillo (gold) - Tangelos
GONG XI FA CAI- Enter the Year of the Dragon
Fresh Asian products are in good supply this week for Chinese New Year.
We anticipate a drop in supply and push in price after this weekend (for about a week) while the Spring Festival Celebrations take place. These will return to normal by the following week.
Asian Vegetables: Good Supply
Asian Celery - Banana Buds/Bell - Baby Bok Choi - Baby Choi Sum - Betel Leaves - Bitter Melon - Bok Choi - Chinese Broccoli - Chinese Cabbage - Choi Sum - Drinking Coconut - Dry Coconut - Flat Leaf Coriander - Gai Choy - Galangal - Garlic Chives - Garlic Shoots - Green Mangoes - Hairy Melon - Kaffir Lime Leaf - Kaffir Limes - Lemongrass - Long Melon - Luffas - Okra - Ong Choy - Pandan Leaf - Pea Eggplant - Pomelos - Red Eschallots - Shiso Leaf - Sin Que - Snake Beans - Sugar Cane - Taro Root - Thai Basil - Thai Eggplant - Tumeric - Vietnamese Mint - White Radish - Winter Melon
Asian Vegetables: Short Supply
Jicama - Kachay - Water Spinach
Asian Vegetables: Not Available
Asian Plum - Een Choy - JuJu Fruit - Lotus Root - Red Pomelos - Tamarind
Exotic Fruit: Good Supply
Dragonfruit - Figs - Gold Kiwifruit - Kiwifruit - Longan - Lychee - Mango - Mangosteen - Pomegranate - Rambutan - Red Papaya - Star Fruit - Tangellos - Yellow Pawpaw
Exotic Fruit: Not Available
Buddha Hands - Cumquats - Custard Apple - Fuji Fruit - Guava - Loquats - Persimmon - Star Apple - Gold Tamarillos - Red Tamarillos
Enjoy!!