Have you heard of pluots? It is a kind of hybrid fruit with three parts plum and one part apricot. Very typical of summer, sweet and fresh, with its flavour it becomes the star of desserts and smoothies. Its name, pluot, is a combination of the English words that give it life: plum and apricot. Do you want to discover other curiosities about this fruit?
What is a hybrid fruit?
Before we go on to talk about pluots, let us explain what a hybrid fruit is. They are not the same as GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms), as these are altered in laboratories in order to achieve a particular cross.
Hybrids are the result of the work of farmers, who have created by-products by combining different fruits through cross-pollination, transferring the pollen from the flower of one plant to another. This also occurs naturally when two fruits pollinate without human intervention. The difference is that, if pollination is controlled, new species of desirable fruit plants are bred, as in the case of pluots.
Where are the pluots born?
Luther Burbank was the creator of pluots, as well as 800 other hybrid fruits. Burbank was a well-known horticulturist based in Santa Rosa, California, who sowed the seeds for the creation of new fruit species through the natural pollination of plants.
His first creation was the plumcot, the predecessor of the pluots, half plum and half apricot. After his death in 1926, other botanists continued to experiment with his creation with the aim of simplifying this type of cultivation.
Finally, it was Floyd Zaiger who introduced the fruit we are talking about in this article. In his modification he managed to create a hybrid with a 75% plum and a 25% apricot. At that moment, pluots appeared to sweeten our lives.
What are the properties of pluots?
Its appearance is similar to that of a plum, but its taste is much sweeter as a result of its composition: 25% apricot. It is a type of fruit rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium and fibre. They are low in sodium and contain no fat. It is a powerful stimulant of the immune system and helps in the regulation of intestinal transit. Some specialists recommend consuming this fruit during breakfast or, in the case of children, during snack time. Thanks to its sweet taste, it will become the favourite fruit of the little ones and it is a very healthy food for them.
A medium-sized pluot provides around 80 calories and 1 gram of protein. It is a healthy carbohydrate that adds a lot of flavour to our meals during the summer season.
How can pluots be eaten?
As for the variety of recipes to which pluots can be added as the main ingredient, there is a wide range of possibilities. It is a versatile fruit and easy to prepare in jam, ice cream, sorbet or cakes, among many other options. Another option to consume it is to mix it in a delicious summer salad, when they are available in the market.
What do you think of pluots? Dare to use this fruit as the main ingredient in your new experiments in the kitchen or simply eat it in bites, as it is a stone fruit that is easy and quick to eat. You can carry it in your bag for those moments when you get the itch. They are an interesting hybrid fruit, if you haven't tried them yet, what are you waiting for?
