
Back at the beginning of May when Marcela was visiting, we took a walk downtown and kept bumping into dozens of trees bearing a yellow/orange fruit that looked like a cross between an apricot and a plum. I thought about loquats but quickly discarded that thought. Really, what would be the odds to in the Lowcountry?! They grow and flourish in California in April and May, but it seemed like the first time I had ever seen one in town...but again locals are not the most observant people in their own town sometimes, and that day I had my camera in hand looking for the peculiarities of the city.
The loquat tree takes its origins in Southeastern China and was later introduced to Japan where it has been cultivated for over a thousand years. It is believed to have come to America via Chinese immigrants settling in Hawai. (source Wikipedia). We picked a couple off of a tree and scrupulously peeled them, not sure if we were indeed on the right loquat track. I figured that if the squirrels and the birds were feasting on them, it was safe to join them (yeah, I know, weird justification...!). The fruits was sweet and sour at the same time, like an apricot crossed with an Italian plum with a touch of lemon. We kept on walking and found another tree on the street with a sign giving us the confirmation that it as indeed a Eriobotrya japonica, or loquat tree.
We were not equipped for loquat picking that day (ladder necessary) and I vowed to either sneak into somebody's yard at night or find a person somebody living in town. I started talking about them to one of my clients who lives downtown and she exclaimed that she was going away for the weekend and I was most welcome to go loquat picking at her house because they would otherwise just fall and rot in her driveway. Her waste, my taste....Yippee!! Once off the tree and cleaned of all lovely little bugs, it happens that the fruits turn "bad" very very fast. Not being one to particularly love stomach aches and given that loquats are high in pectin, I opted to make jam with the loot I had left.

Loquat Creme Brulee Tartelettes:
Makes 6-8 depending on your tart molds
Printable Recipe
For the tart shells:
1 stick plus 1 Tb. butter, cut in small pieces
1 1/4 cups flour
1/4 cup almonds
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 egg yolk
In a food processor, pulse all the dry ingredients. Add the butter and pulse again. Add the egg yolk and pulse until the mixture comes together in a ball. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate while you prepare the filling.Roll between sheets of plastic wrap and cut out circles larger than your tart shells, fit the dough into the molds and cut out the excess. Prick with a fork, cover with a sheet of parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake at 350 for about 10-15 minutes. Let cool to room temperature before filling with the loquat preserve.
Loquat Preserve:
2.5 pounds pitted and chopped fresh loquats
3 cups of sugar
1/3 cup of water
1/4 cup of lemon juice
Combine loquats, sugar and 1/4 cup of water in a large sauce pot. Bring slowly to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cook rapidly until thick. Stir frequently to prevent sticking. Add lemon juice and cook 1 minute longer. Pour hot into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch head space. Adjust caps. Process 15 minutes on a boiling water bath. If you need to read more about canning, here is a great site: National Center For Home Food Preservation.
Creme Brulee Topping:
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup whipping cream
4 large egg yolks
2 large eggs
2 tsp (packed) lemon zest
1 tablespoons granulated sugar + 1 Tb brown sugar for the top
Whisk 1/2 cup sugar, cream, yolks, and eggs in a bowl until pale. Add lemon zest. Pour filling into tart shells filled with the preserve. Bake until filling is slightly puffed at edges and set in center, about 30 minutes. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Remove from rings or tart pans.
Sprinkle tart with 2 tablespoons sugar. If using an oven: broil tart until sugar melts and caramelizes, turning sheet for even browning, about 2 minutes.
If using a torch: start slow and high up to melt the sugar and gradually get your flame closer to finish the burnt effect.

52 comments:
I have never heard of loquats! I am very curious!
They look absolutely delicous. You are too clever with what you whip up in no time. Great photos.
It's always inspiring to see the desserts you come up with. This one is no different. I love the idea of making preserves with them too. If only these grew in Michigan...
Wow, these are immpressive. I've never had loquats. What a cool deesert.
Those tartelettes must taste incredibly good! An amazing fruit!
Cheers,
Rosa
never heard of loquats! neat! the inside reminds me sort of a fig jam. are they at all like figs?
That picture of the note on the tree is priceless! Such a delicious adventure! Many thanks for sharing :-)
smita
great memories, and lovely dessert, but you forgot to tell them about the English gentleman who stopped by to help us. I need to remember to link to this post when I write my post about Charleston (I´ve already started with NY, so I´m hoping I can finally get to it next week).
ooo lovely, don't think I've ever had a loquat, wonder are they called something different here.
I have never tasted a loquat. I am so intrigued... I love a creme brulee tart so these must be magnificent! Enjoy the last day with the family!
Now I am completely confused. If these fruits are nèfles, then I always thought that they are called Medlar in English!
My grandmother used to have a nèfle tree in her backyard, and I loooooooove it. My mother makes a killer nèfle tagine with almonds paste and lamb...souvenirs, souvenirs!
Too bad we can't find them here in Michigan.
Oh well! I have your lovely photos to warm up my heart.
BTW, when are you going to come to Michigan so we can make couscous and M'semmen and tagines together?
I have no idea what a loquat tastes like but those tartelettes look more than edible! You must have had some very happy eaters around your table!
I wish everyone in the family a safe departure/trip!!!
Wow, I never knew ANY of that about loquat trees - interesting!! And kudos to you for coming up with such a DELIGHTFUL treat at the last minute - once again, Helen, you are truly an inspiration!!
Okay, this is the 2nd reason in 2 days I've come across to buy a torch - clearly, a girl needs a torch! Thanks for the excuse. :)
I love loquats! What an inspired idea.
sounds like loquats have a pretty interesting flavor combo. Love the name hehe :).
Creative! I'm so curious as to what these loquats taste like. Love the sign, I wonder if anyone actually took the time to stop and pick some?
Haha! That's very quick thinking! Beautiful tartelettes! :)
I've never had a loquat, but I'd love to try one... These look like beautiful desserts, I would have never guessed they were a last-minute effort!
One of those fruits we don't find in tropical countries:( Helen, I had passed on 'the yummy blog award' to you because I love the recipes on your blog. I just noticed that you haven't picked it up. It is here:
http://tumyumtreats.blogspot.com/2008/04/i-opened-mail-as-soon-as-i-returned.html
Did I forget to mention it before?
Cheers,
Harini
Oh you are so lucky! I've never seen or tasted a loquat before; although I have heard that they are pretty common in Japan, but also very much seasonal. Thus most of the loquat harvest are either dried or preserved.
I admire you being able to come up with an original and delicious dessert so quickly!
I've never even heard of a loquat before, but that dessert sure looks delicious!
That's a funny thought, you running around into peoples' yards looking for a tree to steal some fruit from. This loquat is definitely a new fruit to me, but these tartelettes look fabulous!
Like almost everyone else, I've never heard of loquats, but they sound lovely!
Love the look of the tarts! Yum :)
It's really amazing to see what you're able to come up with - even if you're totally busy! Wish I could do that, too...
J'adore tout simplement tes photos. On a juste envie d'attraper cette cuiller et de goûter à cette magnifique mini-tarte!
J'avais déjà goûté la nèfle du Japon à la Réunion ; là-bas, on l'appelle bibasse. C'était bon mais pas exceptionnel ; peut-être que c'est meilleur une fois cuit?
wow, does that look amazing or what! My mother has grown up with loquat jam (and also candied loquats) quite often in the kitchen, she introduced it to me a few years ago- she loves it and so do I now!
As always, I'm in awe of your creativity! And your photos are getting more and more delicious looking, if that's even possible! :)
I used to have loquats when I was little, Helene, but never knew they could be transformed in something so luscious!
How could I have been reading your blog for so long without realizing you were in South Carolina? One reference to low country and I am instantly brought back to summer vacations...and our upcoming fall trip!
Yum! I love anthing having to do with creme brulee. :)
Oh Tartelette-
You are just magical! I'm completely smitten with these tarts, and the sign on the tree!
It's like you couldn't decide on a sweet, so you made them all; but you put them together in the most bladder -weakeningly delicious looking way.
I've never had or even seen a Loquat before, but can see myself loving them from your description alone.
I love that you can just find these things! First the blackberries and now this! So fun! Those little tarts look wonderful!
These are so beautiful!
What an appropriate time for you to make an appearance on my blog! I just LOVE creme brulee! I have to giggle because my grandmother is also a Frenchwoman (gourmande? peut-être) married to an Irish American and she can also quote Erma Bombeck. So, I guess that means we're practically related!
Thanks for your thoughts!
The photos, the story....perfection. Oh and if you could just send one of these my way that would be perfect too.
I want taste this, it looks so good and a fruit I have never tasted is a dream!
My first time to your blog and you have me wishing I was eating with you tonight ;)
Great stuff!!
April
How awesome to find something new (practically) in your own back yard!
You've got me itching to hunt for unique local produce.
Looks delicious!
Love the concept of creme brulee in a tart shell!
In Israel loquats are grown commercially as well as in every other garden. We usually eat them fresh as they turn brown in cooking.
These are absolutely beautiful. One of my favorite desserts to make is creme brulee! Now I need to try it in tartelette fashion.
There is one fruit I will have to be on the lookout for since I have never heard of it. Looks good though.
My grandma used to have a loquat tree in her backyard. Every now and then we would eat the fruit but I'm not sure anyone ever cooked with it. Alas, it came down with some disease and had to be pulled up. I wish it was still there for me to use in some recipes.
Yes, we have loquats at our SoCal farmers' markets, and now you've given me a delightful way to use them. I've only eaten them fresh, so I'm quite excited by this!
the sign on the tree cracks me up! i've never had a loquat, but i'd love to try one of those tarts!
I love your loquat tartelettes...apart from looking stunning, as always, they must be delicious with the loquat filling!
ronell
Pour ma part je n'ai pas souvenir d'avoir goûté ce fruit à la Réunion (dommage). Je me laisserais donc plus que volontiers tenter par tes tartelettes...
lovely blog/1
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This is SO great. I am going to a girlfriend's house on Saturday, who has three huge loquat trees in her backyard. We've been waiting for them to ripen and I've been diligently try to think of what to do with them. And then I found this post! Brilliant! Thanks so much!
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