What is medlar. Medlar: useful properties and contraindications of an exotic fruit

I am sure that not everyone knows about this fruit, and even more so, not everyone has tasted it. Medlar fruit is not only tasty, but also useful, able to help a person overcome many diseases and get rid of beriberi. Sellers talk about the incredibly beneficial properties of this fruit, primarily referring to the richness of iodine in it.

There are 2 main types of loquat:

Medlar- this is a low tree 3-4 m. The fruits are distinguished by the fact that they are round in shape, brown in color and the pulp is sweet and sour, but tart has an apple-quince taste. To make the fruits soft and most ready for consumption, they are harvested only after the first frost. If there is no point in waiting for frost, they are collected and stored in a strong brine. In this form, they can be stored in cool place within a few weeks, and only after that it can be eaten - it acquires its taste, and the center becomes soft and pleasant. Many describe the taste German loquat like applesauce.

Medlar. This is exactly what I ate in my childhood in Baku.

Japanese loquat- This is a tree whose height can reach 5-7 meters with a wide dense crown. flowers japanese loquat white and fragrant. The fruits are round or oblong with a diameter of about 3-5 cm. Color ripe fruits light or orange-yellow, very similar in appearance to apricots. The pulp is white, juicy, sweet and sour with a few brown seeds. Grown in the Caucasus, found in the wild in China. The harvest is already in April-June, compared with the German medlar, the fruits of which become edible only after the first frosts.

German medlar - and I have already tried this type of medlar here, in St. Petersburg.

Medlar is a prickly evergreen subtropical shrub or tree from the Rosaceae family. Medlar belongs to the Yablonev subfamily (her brothers are apples, pears, quince, chokeberry). Ripens in late spring or early summer. The bark of the trunk and branches is dark gray. The leaves are large, lanceolate, entire, leathery, glossy, felted on the underside. The flowers are white or light yellow, solitary, with a strong aroma.

The leaves are oval and reach 20 to 25 cm long, up to 9 cm wide; thick, covered with fluff below and glossy above. On large branches of the plant, the bark is grayish brown, small branches are covered with reddish-brown bark.

Painted in light yellow, the flowers look like panicles.
It blooms in autumn (September-October), by spring it forms fruits of various shapes (round, spherical or pear-shaped), the largest fruits are from 6 to 8 cm.

The skin is colored orange, yellow or cream.

Medlar fruit is sweet and sour, reminiscent of apricot, apple and strawberries at the same time.

Medlar is a good honey plant, blooms in October-January. The fruits ripen in May-June. They are small, spherical, oval or pear-shaped, with thin pubescent skin and juicy sweet and sour pulp, collected in thick brushes of 8-12 pieces.

medlar, or as it is also called, nispero or shesek - a popular product in Southwest Asia, the Caucasus, they are especially appreciated in Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey, where they have been cultivated for 3000 years. In ancient times, medlar was grown by both the Greeks and the Romans.

The Persians have also cultivated them for centuries. Loquat fruit was popular in England in the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as during the Victorian era. Today, in some countries of Asia and the Caucasus, medlar is still grown; in Japan and Israel, this fruit is very much appreciated. However, in Europe it can be found mainly in botanical gardens and gardens of lovers of exotic fruits.

The medlar was brought to Russia from Southeast Asia (the Japanese medlar is called lokva). In the wild, it grows on the slopes of mountains and on Black Sea coast Caucasus. Moisture-loving. It grows best on stony, calcareous, podzolic and red earth soils. In culture, it is common in Georgia, Azerbaijan. In the south of Crimea and the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, medlar is bred as a fruit and ornamental plant.

In my own way chemical composition medlar fruits are close to apples. They contain up to 6.7% malic acid, 10-19% sugars, lemon acid, vitamin C, tannins and aromatics, pectin, phytoncides, etc. The leaves contain a lot of tannins.

The composition of the medlar

Belonging to the same subfamily makes the composition of the medlar similar to that of apples and contains:

• 0.4 g of proteins;
• 0.2 g fat;
• 10.4 g carbohydrates;
• 1.7 g of dietary fiber;
• trace elements: sodium, potassium (266 mg), iron, magnesium, selenium, iodine.
• fruit acids;
• pectins, phytoncides.
• vitamin A, C, PP, P

Useful properties of medlar

• surprisingly low energy value medlar is only 50 kcal per 100 g, making it an excellent dietary product.
• Pectin in medlar, which removes toxins, heavy metal salts, and even radionuclides from the body, lowers cholesterol
• Fruits contain a lot of molecular water, which saturates the body with moisture. It has a beneficial effect on the filtration of the kidneys.
• Fruit phytoncides are used in the treatment of inflammatory processes respiratory tract, cleanse the lungs and relieve coughs, relieve asthma attacks.
• Due to the high content of provitamin A and vitamin C, the fruits have an antioxidant, cleansing, regenerating, protective, stimulating effect on the cardiovascular system, providing youthfulness to the body, protecting against a heart attack, increasing immunity, and reducing blood pressure.
• Medlar is recommended for diabetes. Triterpenes, which are part of the medlar, stimulate the production of insulin in the blood. Therefore, the use of medlar is useful for diabetic children: it is tasty, healthy, reduces sugar levels.
• Medlar, thanks to the folic acid contained in the fruit, is indicated for feeding pregnant women.
• Unripe fruits and especially medlar seeds are used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases and urolithiasis.
  Amygdalin, contained in the leaves of the plant and performing the function cleansing, cleanses the liver and improve its performance.
• Due to the ability to have a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin, medlar is used in cosmetology.

Usage restrictions

• It is necessary to control the intake of fruits with a pronounced tendency of the body to allergies.
• For young children, start with one or two fruits.
• Patients with gastritis and those suffering from diseases of the pancreas are also recommended to restrain themselves when using medlar.
• Unripe fruits can cause indigestion.

Medlar is eaten in fresh, in areas of growth, jams, jams, marshmallows, marmalade, jam, compotes, juice are made from it, and a cafe substitute is made from seeds.

Therapeutic use loquat

Loquat leaves are useful as well as its fruits. They are concentrated a large number of bioactive substances needed by our body. Antioxidants, by neutralizing free radicals, improve quality and increase life expectancy. Triterpenes produce polysaccharides, increasing the amount of insulin in the body, which ensures the smooth functioning of the pancreas. Amygdalin, acting as an absorbent, removes poisons and toxins from the liver. Polyphenolic components and glycosides destroy existing foreign cells that cause severe diseases.

IN medicinal purposes Medlar leaves and berries are used to prepare infusions and decoctions that relieve many diseases, including diarrhea, asthma, inflammation of the upper respiratory tract and bronchitis.

The pulp of the medlar fruit with honey is useful for respiratory diseases. The use of this remedy cleanses the lungs, facilitates breathing, and cures a lingering cough.

For diarrhea, a decoction of slightly unripe medlar fruits is used. Method of preparation: boil unripe fruits in a small amount of water, leave for several hours, strain and take several times a day.

Ripe fruits have a laxative effect.

With diarrhea, you can use a decoction of medlar leaves. Cooking method: 2 tbsp. l. chopped medlar leaves pour 0.5 liters of water, bring to a boil, boil for 10 minutes, leave for 1 hour, strain. Take 1 tbsp. l. several times a day. This decoction is also suitable for gargling in diseases of the throat.

A decoction of medlar leaves (1 tablespoon per 1 glass of water) is considered a good hemostatic agent.

Medlar helps with gastrointestinal diseases. Since ancient times, medlar has been used as a means of improving digestion and strengthening the intestines.
Fruits, especially unripe ones, and seeds are used in the form of decoctions for inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases, with bloody diarrhea.

A good antidiarrheal agent is also a decoction of medlar leaves.

For colds, gargle with a decoction or infusion of medlar leaves (at the rate of 1 tablespoon per 1 glass of water).

Alcohol tincture of medlar is used to treat patients suffering from asthma or bronchitis.
Mix 5 mashed fruits (with crushed seeds), 2 tablespoons of honey and 100 g of sake (Japanese 28-degree rice vodka), insist for several days and filter. Take 100 g before meals 3 times a day.
This remedy cleanses the lungs of phlegm and makes breathing easier.
The same tincture, if slightly warmed and slowly drunk through a straw, relieves an annoying cough.
And if you also slowly drink 200-250 g of this tincture on an empty stomach, then you can get rid of pain in the heart.

With urolithiasis, to alleviate the condition with renal colic and remove stones, medlar fruits are sometimes recommended.

Contraindications: unripe fruits harmful for ulcers duodenum and gastric ulcer, with inflammatory processes in the pancreas in the acute stage, with gastritis with hyperacidity.

Medlar in cosmetology

The beneficial properties of medlar were also appreciated by cosmetologists. When applying creams, tonics, lotions containing medlar, the skin acquires a healthy well-groomed appearance, becomes more elastic, smooth, radiant. For sensitive skin prone to irritation, rashes, you can use an extract from the leaves of the loquat, which is enough to enter into the cream. The largest number useful substances in the leaves of the medlar is contained in the period from mid-May to August.

Can be cooked at home cosmetic mask, which includes medlar juice. Ingredients: 40 grams of medlar juice with pulp (no skin), 1 tsp. olive oil, 1 tbsp. l. heavy cream, 1 tbsp. l. soy flour. Cooking: mix juice with olive oil, add cream, soy flour, mix everything thoroughly. Apply the composition on a pre-prepared linen napkin (with cutouts for the eyes and mouth), apply to the cleansed skin of the face and neck, fix. Wash off the mask after 15 minutes. warm water, rinse cold.

You can also cook cosmetic ice with medlar juice. Cooking: juice mixed with quality drinking water, pour into molds for ice, freeze. In the morning, wipe the skin of the face and neck with quick movements. From such manipulations, the skin acquires a healthy color, becomes more elastic, elastic, smooth.

But for these procedures there are contraindications: inflammatory diseases, open wounds, eczema, rosacea. In winter, after wiping your face with ice, you should not immediately go outside.

Medlar in cooking

From medlar they cook jam, jams, marshmallows, sherbets, compotes, they are used as a filling for pies, they are used to make refreshments. soft drinks And alcoholic products. In addition, sauces are prepared from medlar, which perfectly complement meat or poultry dishes. medlar is great addition to fruit salads.

Important! Loquat seeds contain a small percentage of cyanide. Therefore, it is advisable not to store jam made from medlar with seeds for a long time.

Loquat jam

Ingredients:

Medlar - 1 kg;
- sugar - 300-350 grams;
- cardamom 1-2 sprigs.

Cooking: Pour boiling water over the medlar, remove the skin, remove the bones. Cook over low heat, shaking frequently, until softened. Stirring constantly, add sugar, add cardamom, bring the mass to a boil again, boil until desired consistency, translate into glass jar with lid.

Note: contraindications for the use of medlar do not apply to the use of jam, jams, marmalade from this berry.

Advice: the jam will turn out very tender if you stuff the medlar with nuts instead of seeds.

Chicken with medlar

Ingredients:

- chicken - 1 pc. (weight 350-400 grams);
- medlar - 3-5 pcs. (depending on size);
- Apple juice- 1 tbsp. l.;
- lemon juice - 0.5 tbsp. l.;
- red pepper, crushed - to taste;
- a little salt.

Cooking: cut the chicken into pieces, wash, dry paper towel, lubricate butter, rub with salt, leave for 2-3 hours. Then put in a baking dish, cover with pitted loquat, cut into 2-4 parts, bake at a temperature of 180 degrees for 45-50 minutes. Then take out 2-3 pieces of medlar and use a blender to turn into puree. Mix puree with apple cider lemon juice, grease the chicken pieces with this composition and put in the oven for 15 minutes.

Growing Japanese loquat from seeds

Seeds are planted no later than three days after extraction from the stone.

You should not expect fruits from a plant from purchased seeds, because most likely it will not give them; after eating the pulp, it is most correct to immediately plant the bone in the ground.

A mixture of peat-sand-leaf soil and humus is suitable for seed germination. The seeds are planted in a pot, to a depth of 2 cm (you can have several in one container) in moist soil.

The container with medlar should be placed in a well-lit, warm place, previously covered with polyethylene.

Watering seedlings is necessary at least four times a week. For him to take soft water(settled), use a sprayer.

After the emergence of sprouts, remove the pots from direct sunlight. It is necessary to remove the film daily in order to clean it from condensate, to avoid mold and to allow oxygen to enter.

At home, you need to wait at least a month for the appearance of sprouts; there is no guarantee that the plant will bear fruit. A sprouted plant needs an air temperature of at least 18 degrees.

When the sprouts become about 15 cm high, they must be seated. Seedlings that do not die during transplantation will begin to grow up and in width. The soil for transplantation should not be acidic, and the container should have good depth.

Flowers on a young medlar appear approximately in the third year from the end of autumn, the fruits will form in mid-December. When the medlar fruit fades, its crown can be shaped.

Transplantation in open ground

One plant needs a plot of land, one and a half meters by one and a half meters. Watering is plentiful, top dressing is at least twice (summer and spring) with organic fertilizers.

If the loquat receives the right care, it will be able to grow well and bear fruit. For those who want to receive delicious fruits more likely, German medlar is suitable.

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But this miracle sprouted in my pots from ordinary Japanese loquat seeds:

What is medlar and how is it eaten, beneficial features and contraindications, use in folk treatment fruits, leaves, seeds of a plant - this is what we will talk about today on the website site.

Loquat fruit (photo) - where it grows, how it looks, what taste

The homeland of the medlar is Asia and Iran. It was brought to Russia in the 19th century. In the first photo, the medlar is Japanese, in the second - Caucasian.

Medlar is a close relative of hawthorn and. The tree reaches a height of 7-8 meters, the trunk and branches are covered with small thorns, the leaves are quite large, it blooms in mid-spring - in April. Flowers white color, have 5 petals.

After flowering, a “drupe” is formed - the fruit of the medlar. Fruit orange color have a spherical shape 2-3 cm, taste- sour, sweet and sour, sometimes there is astringency, some medlar resembles an apple, others strawberries, passion fruit. Most of all, when asked what the taste of medlar is like, people think of an apricot.

The fruits are stored rather poorly, so they are very rarely exported.

There are about 30 varieties of wood, the most famous are Japanese and Caucasian (German) medlar, the latter is very unpretentious, common in the south of Russia, Ukraine, in the Transcaucasus, in other areas it simply does not have time to ripen - the growing season is too long.

Whether the medlar fruit is exotic or just Azerbaijani, Uzbek, Turkish, Abkhazian, Georgian, Spanish, Israeli, everyone decides. It is not uncommon on the Black Sea coast, so I think many could try it while on vacation.

The composition of medlar and calories

• - phytoncides;
• - vitamins of group B, vitamin A and C;
• - tannins;
• — minerals(for example, calcium, zinc, potassium, copper, iodine, etc.)

Medlar fruit is rich in rare substances: potassium and vitamin A. Potassium is involved in nerve conduction, in muscle contraction. Vitamin A is very useful, it affects the perception of colors, human growth and development, strengthens cell membranes and removes toxins.

For 100 g of medlar, there is only 47 calories. It is classified as a dietary product high content fiber.

Useful properties of medlar

What is useful medlar for the body?

This interesting plant It has a number of useful properties and substances for humans.

• Great for boosting the immune system with lots of ascorbic acid in composition.

• Since the fruits of this fruit contain tannins, and they are known to have astringent properties, it helps even with bloody diarrhea (unripe), and more mature fruits will help with constipation.

• Medlar normalizes digestion.

• Purifies the body.

• Strengthens health, the body as a whole, increases resistance to harmful microorganisms and infections.

• Accumulates useful substances in the body, so it is especially useful during pregnancy. Plus - good source folic acid, so necessary while expecting a baby.

• Helps reduce blood pressure, often juice is used for this.

• As u can be a great source.

• Loquat leaves are used for treatment.

• Prevents renal colic.

• Helps with bladder stones.

• Due to the large amount of pectin (as in apples), it activates the processes of digestion, metabolism, helps to reduce cholesterol, removes salts of heavy metals, radionuclides.

• Facilitates breathing, relieves phlegm in the lungs, relieves coughing. Especially when combined with honey.

• Promotes the production of insulin, improves blood, therefore it is recommended for diabetics.

• Heals the liver.

• Prevention of oncological diseases.

Interesting fact: medlar has 1,500 thousand times more beneficial properties for the eyes than carrots.

It is also very interesting that in order to get a beautiful tan, you need to eat a plate of grated carrots before going to the beach. But since there are many times more useful substances in the medlar, similar to the carrot composition, we can conclude that instead of carrots for tanning, you should eat medlar, and in smaller quantities. With such a rich composition, it is used in medicine and in cosmetology.

Loquat fruit - benefits in cosmetology

Thanks to its composition rich in useful substances, orange fruit medlar is often used in folk medicine and cosmetology. Creams with this healthy fruit restore skin radiance, elasticity and hydration, strengthen and improve complexion.

Creams with the addition of extracts from the leaves of this tree will relieve teenage or other problematic rashes, refresh and remove oily sheen.

folk recipe masks with medlar looks like that:

• Mix about 30 ml of nectar with a teaspoon of olive oil, a tablespoon of cream and flour. This mass should be applied to damp skin with your fingertips, covered with a paper towel and left for 1/4 hour. Rinse off with cool or lukewarm water.

Tonic can also be prepared at home. Mix a glass of medlar juice with a small amount vodka. Wipe the face with this composition before applying any cream. But people with sensitive skin Be very careful when using this product due to its alcohol content. Store preferably in the refrigerator.

Medlar to maintain a slim figure

Since any healthy diet is based on a sufficient level of body water, in the removal of excess salt and toxins, in the consumption of all necessary vitamins, then the loquat fully corresponds to all of the above.

It will not only improve the body, removing from it harmful substances, but also supplement the missing minerals, improve the functioning of the stomach and intestines. It is very useful to use this fruit in fasting days, it is rich in fiber, and contains few calories, which means that the feeling of fullness and lightness is provided.

But such days should not be carried away, they should be no more than one a week. It is also impossible to eat more than 1 kg for this day.

Like any other product, medlar, in addition to benefits, also has harm, contraindications to its use in food or the use of the plant and its components in treatment.

Medlar contraindications - harm

• - gastritis with high acidity;
• - ulcers of the stomach and intestines;
• - diseases of the pancreas;
• - with various forms of cholecystitis.

All these recommendations mainly apply to unripe sour medlar fruits, as they increase acidity. But a ripe one can hardly hurt. If a person suffers from the above problems, but loves medlar very much, then it can be eaten in a processed form - jam, compote, dried fruits.

The use of medlar in folk medicine

Loquat tincture for the treatment of bronchitis and bronchial asthma

Those who have long understood the full benefit of this delicious fruit, even developed some recipes.

Ingredients : 10 pcs. loquat, 5 g of honey, a glass of rice vodka.

• Remove the seeds, put the fruits in a blender, grind until smooth. Then the resulting jelly is thoroughly mixed with honey. The previously extracted bones should be added to the resulting mixture, pour rice vodka, again you need a blender - the bones must be crushed and mixed. Pour all this into a glass jar and close the lid. Put the jar in a place where it is dark and cool, you need to insist the mixture for a week. Then strain the liquid through a fine colander.

The resulting remedy, promotes the excretion of sputum. The taste is reminiscent of apples and apricots. Due to the alcohol content, it is not recommended for children.

Leaves and bones of medlar are no less useful

leaf decoction Great for sore throats and sore throats. Several leaves are poured with a small amount of boiling water (about 200 ml), the broth should cool. Gargle at the first symptoms.

Bones only used in the processed state because they are slightly poisonous. Dried bones brewed for cores. A tincture of alcohol, seeds and honey (200 ml of vodka, 10 seeds, 4 tablespoons of table honey, leave for 3-5 days) will help not only with bronchial asthma, but also about a sick heart, relieve pain.

If there are problems with the stomach or intestines, the bones boil for about twenty minutes, defend, drink half a glass before meals.

When to collect medlar fruits, how to store

• The leaves are also used in folk medicine and are usually harvested throughout the summer.

• The fruits are usually harvested in late autumn because sour taste after frosts it is replaced by sweet, they become softer. If you do not pluck the fruits, then they will remain hanging all winter, some even collect them in early spring.

Fruits should be medium in size, neither too soft nor hard, without dark spots.

The fruit has a short shelf life - it is juicy, ripens quickly.

During storage, it is necessary to make sure that they do not touch, otherwise the product begins to deteriorate quickly. It is not necessary to keep the medlar in the refrigerator, it can be stored simply in the room for 3 days.

How to eat medlar

To all nutrients entered the body, the fruit must be eaten fresh, without forgetting to remove the bones. The most delicious fruits are those that hung on the tree longer, medium in size, bright, without bruises and spots. Small ones are often frankly sour, large ones are often overripe, starting to ferment.

To peel or not to peel is an amateur, as with apples, someone stubbornly peels the fruit, and someone happily nibbles apple peel, rightly believing that it has a lot of useful substances. Also with the fruits described, although some stubbornly call medlar berries.

Once my sister brought me a treat from the Black Sea coast - unusual fruits. It was a medlar. I had never seen it before, never eaten it. I really liked her. I became interested in what characteristics medlar is famous for, useful properties and contraindications to the use of this fruit.

Medlar - what is it? The genus of fruit trees or medlar shrubs has approximately 30 varieties. In our dachas, plots are successfully cultivated, two types grow:

• medlar Caucasian (aka German),
• Japanese medlar (loqua).

They are completely different from each other, but both have pleasant taste. The fruits of the Japanese variety outwardly resemble an apricot with a tender, fragrant pulp inside - it is difficult to transport, store. German medlar must first be aged or slightly frozen, then it becomes soft, suitable for consumption.

Medlar tree, photo:

This plant blooms with lush white inflorescences that have a delicate pleasant aroma somewhat reminiscent of tuberose. Japanese loquat blooms by November, and already in May it pleases with a harvest.

The German medlar can be found traveling through the Crimean mountains, and outside our country - in the Balkans, Asia Minor, Iran (northern regions), Transcaucasia. Due to the wide distribution in the Crimean regions, you can often find another name for the German variety - Crimean medlar.

Flowering medlar, photo:

Differences between Japanese and German loquat:

1. The Japanese has one bone, the German has five small seeds.
2. The fruits of the first have a soft peel, bright saturated yellow, another variety has a dense skin of a dark brown hue.
3. In the Japanese variety, the color is tied on the shoots of the current year, in the German variety - on last year's.
4. The foliage of the Japanese medlar has a fluffy coating, another variety boasts waxy leaves.
5. Japanese loquat fruits ripen in spring, have sweet taste, loose pulp. In the German variety, the fruits ripen in autumn, they taste sour, dense.
6. The Japanese variety does not tolerate frost well, the German variety is quite frost-resistant.
7. The Japanese variety is characterized by evergreen foliage, the Germanic leaves fall off.

Japanese medlar, photo:

German medlar, photo:

Medlar - useful properties

It is noteworthy that given plant does not have a single part that is not put to good use. The fruits are used fresh, they are used to make jam, make homemade alcoholic drinks, compotes. The bones (seeds) of medlar are dried and then ground to a powder, after which they are brewed like coffee. Even the bark and foliage are used with skill - they are used to process leather (tanning). Wood is used for the manufacture of various crafts, kitchen accessories.

For treatment, prevention various diseases Japanese loquat is more commonly used. Useful elements contained in its fruits, have positive influence to work gastrointestinal tract restore healthy intestinal microflora. The best homemade "medicine" is the pulp of the fruit with the addition of honey. This healthy treat helps with inflammation of the respiratory tract, helps cleanse the lungs, relieves coughing, makes breathing easier. Also useful are decoctions from the leaves of the plant, which have phytoncides and are therefore successfully used to treat bronchitis.

The use of medlar fruits helps to eliminate toxins, radionuclides, heavy metal salts from the body, and helps with various kidney ailments.

If you use this fruit for a long time, then the liver and pancreas will normalize their work. Loquat fruits are the strongest natural antioxidants, stimulants immune system, their use reduces the risk of oncological diseases.

Medlar, photo:

Also, medlar contains many vitamins - this factor has a positive effect on the functions of cardio-vascular system. Availability practically complete list vitamins of group B, thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine contributes to the normalization of blood pressure, acceleration of regeneration processes.

Loquat fruits are so useful that their value can be compared with effective medicines, but they are the product natural origin. Remarkably, even after heat treatment medlar does not lose its useful qualities.

For medicinal purposes, medlar leaves should be harvested in August, and fruits - with the onset of autumn. In addition to the aforementioned jams, juices, fruits are made alcohol tinctures, which can later be used as a medicine. To do this, the bones are removed from the fruits, and the pulp is kneaded, poured with vodka (100 g is enough for 4 fruits). For best effect seeds can also be crushed, crushed, added to fruit pulp. After 5 days, the tincture should be filtered, and then consumed one tablespoon before meals.

A decoction of the leaves is prepared in this way: one tablespoon is poured into 200 g of boiling water, insisted for 1 hour. This decoction can be taken 50 grams after each meal (for general strengthening of the body). For treatment peptic ulcer, on the contrary, should be taken orally 3 tablespoons of decoction half an hour before meals. The same infusion helps with bleeding gums. The leaves can also be used as a hemostatic agent: just apply a couple of times fresh leaf to a wound or cut so that the blood stops flowing.

Loquat fruit has some contraindications - it is not recommended to use it for people suffering from high acidity (the fruits are sour in themselves).

It should be given little by little to small children, making sure that the child does not have an allergic reaction. Breastfeeding mothers should also use caution given fruit for a similar reason.

In acute forms of peptic ulcer, gastritis, serious diseases of the duodenum, it is better not to eat medlar. It is undesirable to consume too much fruit, as this increases the risk of an allergic reaction. Children can eat two fruits daily without a threat to health, adults - 4-5 pieces.

Medlar - growing at home

Medlar - how to grow this beautiful, useful tree at home?

There are two ways to achieve this goal: seeds (stones) or cuttings. Most effective result gives reproduction from seeds, since the plant retains all the qualities of the mother tree. Thus, the fruit is cut, the bones are removed, after which they are immersed for a couple of hours in a solution to stimulate plant growth ("Zircon", "Epin"). To remove the overgrown pulp, as well as for speedy ripening, you can process the medlar bones with sandpaper.

A container is prepared in advance, an earthen mixture is poured, which is designed for indoor flowers. The bones should be buried in the soil by about 3 cm, 5 pieces are enough for one pot (one and a half or two liters). After that, you need to water the ground a little, cover the pot with plastic wrap or glass, and install it in a warm room. The soil should be watered as it dries, but airing should be done daily - remove the cover from the pot for a couple of hours. In this case, the air temperature should not be lower than +18°C.

The first sprouts appear after about 40-50 days, after the appearance of three leaves, young plants, together with a clod of earth, are transplanted separately. This process should be done carefully, as the root system of the medlar is fragile. Pin the top should then, if you are interested in getting a bush. If you need a tree, then let the development process go by itself, it is better not to interfere. The top is also pinned down so that the medlar does not stretch upwards, with this approach, flowering can be expected in 4-5 years.

German medlar does not need special care, as it does not bloom in winter. She will be comfortable on the glazed loggia on the north side.

As for the Japanese variety, the first few years will be troublesome - it must be replanted every year, completely replacing the soil. This process is stressful for the plant, so it is best to do it in the summer after fruiting is complete. Japanese loquat begins to bloom in autumn, so fertilizing should be continued throughout the winter.

Since the natural habitat of the medlar is the tropics, it loves a humid climate. That is, she needs daily irrigation from a spray bottle. Watering should be done 3 or 4 times a week, but you should not oversaturate the plant with moisture.

You can also grow medlar by cuttings, the process steps are as follows:

1. This plant takes root in the dark, so the jar for cuttings should be wrapped in dark paper in advance.
2. We fill a jar or other container with water, you can also use a sandy-peat substrate.
3. We cut the lower part of the branch so that the cut angle forms 45 degrees.
4. We remove all the leaves from the handle, leaving only a couple.
5. We put the cutting in water or a substrate, deepening it by 5 cm, water it well.
6. We cover the circumcised plastic bottle, put in a warm place, you can near the radiator.

After 50-60 days, the cuttings will have roots. It can be transplanted to a permanent place of residence. Provide the tree with high-quality watering, lighting, you may first have to use a special botanical lamp. A tree grown from a cutting begins to bear fruit in 4-5 years.

As for care, the medlar prefers at least ten hours of light, warm water for watering, weekly spray irrigation. In the summer, she will not be hindered by a plentiful tropical downpour, which can be arranged at home, under the shower.

No matter which growing method you choose, this plant is worth the effort and care invested in it. Medlar, the beneficial properties and contraindications of which we described above, will become for you a real home healer, decoration of your home. At home, the height of the tree will not exceed one and a half meters, so you can not be afraid that the plant will take up a lot of space.

If you live in the south, a seedling grown from a seed or a cutting can be planted in open ground.

Here is such a medlar growing in my country house. True, it did not grow from a seed - a seedling was bought in the fall of 2015. The seller of seedlings found it difficult to answer what kind of medlar, Japanese or German. Well, let's wait and see...

The top of the winter froze, dried up. But leaves sprouted from the lower buds. The photo was taken in the summer of 2016.

And this is the same seedling a year later (spring 2017). Even the first flower bloomed!

Hope the tree survives next winters… And bring me a good harvest!

You may be interested in the following information:

Medlar is an evergreen subtropical plant native to the Caucasus and Central Asia. The fruits are round in shape with juicy sweet and sour tender pulp and thin skin. In Arabic, they are called "askadinya", which means "the most delicious in the world" and this seems to be true.

Medlar has been cultivated for over three millennia and was popular with the Greek and Roman nobility as a delicacy. Today, the plant can be found in many botanical gardens around the world or in the gardens of exotic plant lovers.

Article content:

What is useful medlar?

Except palatability medlar is also useful for various diseases:

• fruits are used for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• decoctions, infusions of leaves and bark are used to treat wounds as an antiseptic or to stop bleeding;
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• unripe fruits and seeds are taken for urolithiasis;
• decoctions from seeds to improve digestion and strengthen the intestines.

Nutritional value and calories

The composition of the medlar fruit is very colorful and rich. It includes:

• glucose and fructose;
• ascorbic acid;
• Apple acid;
• phytoncides;
• pectins;
• tannins.

In addition, the medlar contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals so necessary for human health.

Composition of medlar in 100 g(according to USDA Nutrient Database):

• water - 87 g;
• proteins - 0.45 g;
• fats - 0.22 g;
• carbohydrates - 12 g;
• fiber - 1.7 g.

Vitamins:

Minerals:

• potassium - 265 mg;
• phosphorus - 25 mg;
• calcium - 15 mg;
• sodium - 1 mg;
• magnesium - 12 mg.

Trace elements:

• manganese - 150 mcg;
• iron - 0.3 mg;
• copper - 41 mcg;
• selenium - 0.5 mcg;
• zinc - 51 mcg.

The calorie content of medlar is about 50-60 kcal, which makes it low-calorie product great for those who have problems with overweight or trying to get rid of it.

Healing properties of lungwort and methods of application in traditional medicine -

Contraindications

Behind long time there are no specific contraindications for the use of medlar. However, a large amount of the contained acids can harm people suffering from high stomach acid, gastritis or ulcers. In such cases, it is recommended to use jam or preserves from fruits, which, on the contrary, have a beneficial effect in these diseases.

Medlar quickly deteriorates and you need to eat it only fresh, otherwise poisoning is possible. Also, you should not drink alcoholic beverages prepared on the basis of the fruits of this plant or stale juices.

Methods of application in traditional medicine

Since ancient times, healers have noticed and began to use the numerous beneficial properties of medlar, and in absolutely different areas.

Cosmetology

The fruits have a tonic property and perfectly strengthen the skin, nails and hair. As an example, you can use japanese recipe cosmetic mask and facial lotion from the fruits of this wonderful plant:

• To prepare, you need 100 ml of sake ( vodka will do) and 250 ml fresh juice with pulp. Shake thoroughly and wipe the face with the resulting drug twice a day. Some time the product can be stored in the refrigerator.
• Mix a teaspoon of camellia with cream, 3 tablespoons of juice with fruit pulp and one tablespoon of soy flour, mix thoroughly and apply the resulting mass on gauze and apply to the face for 15 minutes. Wash after the procedure. The effect will be achieved quickly. The skin will get stronger and will look healthy and elastic. Repeat regularly.

Dietetics and weight loss

Medlar is excellent as a "unloading" product for removing toxins and feces from the body with a complex diet. To do this, one day a week (no more) you need to eat only the fruits of the medlar.

There are many useful substances in the fruits and the body will easily tolerate such a diet, while cleansing and burning fat will occur. It is recommended to eat no more than a kilogram per day, and if you have stomach pains, reduce the amount or consult a nutritionist.

Hemostatic

Preparing a decoction of the leaves 1 tablespoon per 250 ml of water. Bleeding areas are treated with a cooled broth.

For diarrhea

A decoction is prepared from seeds or unripe fruits and leaves. The amount is selected depending on the severity (the more severe the diarrhea, the more saturated the broth). Take until recovery.

Asthma and bronchitis

Necessary: 5 fruits mashed together with seeds, 2-3 tablespoons of honey and about 100 g of vodka. Stir and infuse for several days in a dark place. Consume before meals at least three times a day for asthma or bronchitis, which will make breathing easier. The same tincture in a warmed form can be consumed slowly while drinking when coughing, as well as for pain in the heart.

medlar exotic product and it's hard to get it. However, if you plant it in a garden or summer cottage, you can grow it yourself.

The plant, although southern, is very resistant to slight frosts and proper care will bear fruit.

The medlar has many useful properties and the efforts spent on cultivation will justify themselves.

medlar, or as it is also called, nispero or shesek is a deciduous fruit tree the pink family. Their fruits, medlar fruits, are a popular product in Southwest Asia, the Caucasus, they are especially appreciated in Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey, where they have been cultivated for 3000 years. In ancient times, medlar was grown by both the Greeks and the Romans.

The Persians have also cultivated them for centuries. Loquat fruit was popular in England in the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as during the Victorian era. Today, in some countries of Asia and the Caucasus, medlar is still grown; in Japan and Israel, this fruit is very much appreciated. However, in Europe it can be found mainly in botanical gardens and gardens of lovers of exotic fruits.

What is medlar and what is it eaten with?

Medlar is the closest relative of hawthorn, quince and pear. There are 2 main types of loquat:

- this is a low tree 3-4 m. The fruits are distinguished by the fact that they are round in shape, brown in color and the pulp is sweet and sour, but tart. To make the fruits soft and most ready for consumption, they are harvested only after the first frost. If there is no point in waiting for frost, they are collected and stored in a strong saline solution. In this form, they can be stored in a cool place for several weeks, and only after that it can be eaten - it acquires its taste, and the center becomes soft and pleasant. Many describe the taste of German medlar as similar to applesauce.

It is now for us that fruit is something unusual and exotic, but just a hundred years ago, for Europeans it was quite common, people ate its fruits fresh, made desserts and jams from medlar.

Medlar Japanese- This is a tree whose height can reach 5-7 meters with a wide dense crown. Japanese loquat flowers are white and fragrant. The fruits are round or oblong with a diameter of about 3-5 cm. The color of ripe fruits is light or orange-yellow, outwardly very similar to apricots. The flesh is white, juicy, sweet and sour with a few brown seeds. Grown in the Caucasus, found in the wild in China. The harvest is already in April-June, compared with the German medlar, the fruits of which become edible only after the first frosts.

Japanese medlar can only be stored for a few days, as they spoil quickly, and they also do not tolerate transportation well. Apparently because of this, there are very few chances to meet these fruits in our stores.

Interesting facts about medlar

• In Israel, the Japanese medlar is called "Shesek". In Spain - nispero (nispero).

• Initially, in Japan, medlar trees were grown for decorative purposes.

• From the extract of medlar leaves, many cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies make remedies for hair loss and hair growth.

• Recently, a substance was found in the extract from the leaves of the medlar, which allegedly has the ability to stop growth. cancer cells. Now they are still being tested and there are no final results.

Medlar - useful properties

Compound: Water, alimentary fiber, protein, malic and citric acid, fructose.

Vitamins and minerals: Beta-carotene, carotene, niacin, folic acid, vitamin E and A, B vitamins, vitamin K, calcium, phosphorus, iodine, iron, magnesium, potassium.

Calories: 100 grams of medlar contains about 42 kcal.

In countries such as Spain, Japan or Israel, Japanese medlar is very much loved and appreciated. This fruit is mostly eaten fresh, and they also make jams and jams, desserts, as well as compotes and liqueurs. The Spaniards manage to make sauces and side dishes for meat from medlar.

Like any other fruit, medlar has many useful properties. Due to the fact that medlar contains very few calories, it is great for those who are on a diet.

Medlar is recommended for people who have diseases or dysfunctions of the kidneys, increasing their ability to filter. It contains a lot of molecular water, thanks to which it nourishes our body with moisture and helps to get rid of toxins.

The main benefit of medlar is that it is very rich in vitamin A, which is indispensable for the health of our eyes.

Medlar is useful for gastrointestinal diseases, as it improves digestion and cleanses the intestines.

Spanish farmers with a medlar crop (nispero); photo source: laopiniondemalaga.es

How to choose and store medlar

When choosing medlar, you should pay attention to the size, too small ones will be sour, as they may be unripe, and large ones may be overripe, which means not quite juicy. Ideally, you need to choose a medium-sized medlar - about the size of a plum.

The color should be even, without signs of the beginning of a decaying process, of medium softness.

Medlar is stored for only a few days in a cool place. Can also be stored at room temperature.

It is best to use medlar fresh, since in this form all the useful properties of this beautiful fruit. Before you eat the loquat, do not forget to remove the peel.