North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[david liezen <chandos49@hotmail.com>]

Could be of interest to us omnivores, too. Shows what little I know about 
dates; there are other whole classes of 'em? Probably can't grow 'em in zone 
6, either,
Dave Liezen


----------------------------------------
> Date: Mon, 24 Jun 2013 18:22:23 -0400
> From: Gtolle0709@wowway.com
> To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: [nafex] A Question about Unusual Date Tastes
>
> Folks:
>
> I found the following passage from Pliny the Elder's _Natural
> History_ (Bk 13, Chap. 9, p. 175, Pliny the Elder, trans.: Bo stock,
> John; Riley, H. T., Natural History of Pliny, Henry G. Bohn, London
> (1855). Available online at:
> http://www.archive.org/stream/naturalhistoryof03plin#page/n5/mode/2up):
>
> In the southern parts of the world, the date known as "syargi" {from
> the greek /snagrov/, "wild boar"}, hold the highest rank,... The
> same is the case also with the tree that bears the /syagri/. We have
> heard a wonderful story too, relative to this last tree, to the
> effect that it dies and comes to life again in a similar manner to
> the phoenix, which it is generally though has borrowed its name from
> the palm-tree, in consequence of this peculiarity; at the moment
> that I am writing this, that tree is still bearing fruit. As for the
> fruit itself, it is large, hard, and of a rough appearance, and
> differing in taste from all other kinds, having a sort of wild
> flavour peculiar to itself, and not unlike that of the flesh of the
> wild boar; it is evidently this circumstance from which it has
> derived its name of "/syagrus/."
>
>
> Since the interest in dates in the US is generally sugar dates, I found
> this very interesting. I realize that this particular variety of date
> may not survive any longer (though, who knows) but I'd appreciate a
> little background (perhaps a reference book or two) on edible non-sugar
> dates from one of our date experts. Such a date could be of considerable
> interest in among the vegetarian community.
>
>
> Thanks,
> Geoffrey Tolle
>
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> Avant Geared http://www.avantgeared.com                                     
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