Peaches tend to divide opinions, making the debate between hard and soft peaches particularly prominent. These juicy fruits combine sweetness with a tart flavor, making them a delightful choice for hydration. Let’s explore the different varieties of peaches, each with its unique name and characteristics.
Varieties as diverse as their names
Over 100 varieties of peaches are available in South Korea alone, showcasing their diversity. This variety allows individuals to enjoy the fun of selecting peaches based on their personal tastes. Peaches primarily fall into two categories: fuzzy and non-fuzzy. Fuzzy peaches include yellow and white, while the flat peach variety represents non-fuzzy peaches. Peaches can be classified based on their texture, with softer varieties known as water and firmer varieties called hard peaches.
The Shine Muscat of the peach world: Daegukcheon peach
Nicknamed the Shine Muscat of peaches, the Daegukcheon peach is a hybrid of flat peaches and the domestically grown white peach variety, Gyeongbong. Its price tends to be higher than regular peaches, and its limited supply relative to its popularity can be hard to find.
A blend of nectarine and white peaches: Sinbi peach
The Sinbi peach combines the tart flavor of nectarines with the juicy sweetness of white peaches. It contains essential and organic amino acids, aiding fatigue recovery and promoting healthy digestion. For the best flavor, it should be refrigerated and ripened for one or two days in the shade before consumption.
Crispy Madoka peach
Originating from Japan, the Madoka peach, also known as Wanghongbaek in Korean, is a large peach weighing over 400 grams (14 ounces) on average. The crunchy texture is a defining feature, and depending on its ripeness, it can feel chewy, earning it the nickname chewy peach. This variety enjoys widespread popularity.
The epitome of firm peaches: Cheondo peach
This peach stands out due to its lack of fuzz on the skin, making it smaller and firmer than other peaches. It starts with a tart flavor that transitions to sweetness. Look for smooth, vividly red surfaces, and choose peaches that feel slightly soft rather than overly hard to enjoy their sweetness. Known for its benefits to liver health, it helps detoxify the liver and expel toxins from the body.
Sweet yet low in calories!
Peaches are also gaining popularity as a diet food due to their low-calorie content. With approximately 36 kcal per 100 grams (3.5 ounces), a single peach weighing 250 to 300 grams (8.8 to 10.6 ounces) contains about 100 kcal (418 kJ). The catechins in peaches help burn fat, while niacin aids digestion after meals, promoting gut health.
The firmer, the lower the glycemic index
Firm peaches, a prime example of low-glycemic-index foods, have a glycemic index 41, causing blood sugar levels to rise slowly after consumption. Generally, firmer fruits tend to have lower glycemic indexes, so choosing a firm peach is a wise decision. The dense fiber in firm fruits slows digestion and absorption in the body.
Eat peaches 30 minutes before meals
To better control blood sugar, it is recommended to eat peaches 30 minutes before meals rather than as a dessert. Consuming fruit immediately after a meal can cause a rapid spike in blood sugar, which is not advisable. Eating fruit beforehand gives the fiber a feeling of fullness and slows down the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates consumed later in the meal.
Selecting delicious peaches and ripening them properly
Peaches are delicate and easily bruised, so choosing firm fruits without blemishes is best. Among fuzzy peaches, those with abundant and upright fuzz are fresher; they tend to enhance their aroma and texture as they ripen. Peaches generally become sweeter as you move away from the stem, so if the stem end is raised, it may have been harvested too early and could taste bitter. A round stem end with many spots on the skin indicates higher sweetness. When ripening, place peaches in a well-ventilated and cool area, and when storing, wrap each peach in a paper towel and refrigerate.
How to store them for longevity
The ideal temperature for storing peaches is 8-13°C (about 46-55°F). While refrigeration enhances their sweetness, be cautious as temperatures below 0°C (32°F) can diminish flavor. Prolonged storage at low temperatures in the refrigerator can lead to a decline in taste, so it’s best to consume them within one to two days of purchase.
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