Historic Greeks referred to as quince “the golden apple;” this fruit, which has excessive dietary worth and medicinal qualities additionally symbolized love in historic occasions.
December is the month of the quince, a season in Greece when the yellow fruit that appears like one thing between an apple and a pear is at its ripest and is good to be used in candy recipes.
When eaten uncooked, it’s dry and truly tastes bitter or bitter. Usually it’s cooked, and if cooked with the best components, it may be utilized in scrumptious sweets and an array of different dishes.
Extra importantly, this “golden apple” has vital medicinal qualities and excessive dietary worth, making it an vital a part of one’s eating regimen.
The quince bush grows wild within the Mediterranean international locations and its season is taken into account to be the tip of Autumn.
The Quince in mythology and custom
The quince, which originated within the Caucasus, ultimately made its method to Ancient Greece, the place the fruit first appeared in Cydonia (Κυδωνία) in northern Crete, in today’s Chania, the place it bought its identify.
It’s common perception that the quince even predates the apple, and a few consider many references to “apples” in antiquity truly meant the quince — together with the story of the apple Eve gave to Adam.
Historic Greeks referred to as them “melimilon;” in line with Greek mythology, the quince is related to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of beauty and love.
In historic artwork, Aphrodite is usually depicted holding a quince, the fruit that symbolizes not solely love, however magnificence and fertility as effectively.
Historic Greeks, who intently related it with fertility, gave it a distinguished place in weddings, the place it was provided as a present; the bride additionally used them to freshen her breath earlier than the ceremony.
In elements of northern Greece within the distant previous, the household of the groom would accompany him to the church carrying a submit with quince, pomegranates and apples tied to it.
Additionally, the bride was supposed chew on a quince on the ceremony to make sure the couple would have a child boy.
Greek custom additionally holds that when you see a quince in your desires, you should have happiness and peace in your house.
Dietary worth
So many repeated references to quince in antiquity aren’t unintended, because the fruit comprises vital nutritional vitamins and vitamins that make it one of many healthiest of all fruits.
It has a excessive content material of water, in addition to potassium, whereas it additionally comprises nutritional vitamins A, B advanced, and C. It additionally comprises a large amount of fiber, whereas amongst its vitamins are phosphorus and iron.
Quince can also be wealthy in tannins which have a powerful antioxidant impact, whereas it supplies 60 energy per 100 grams.
A “Golden apple” a day retains the physician away
The advantages of quince are many, so it’s wholesome so as to add it to at least one’s eating regimen as typically as potential.
It has excessive pectin (soluble fiber) content material, which helps management blood levels of cholesterol and prevents constipation, serving to those that are attempting to reduce weight.
Pectin can also be vital for these with Sort 2 diabetes, because it slows down the absorption of sugar, stabilizing its ranges within the blood.
The excessive content material of vitamin C (a medium piece of fruit supplies about 1/3 of the advisable day by day allowance of the vitamin) stimulates the immune system as effectively.
Nonetheless, the excessive dose of vitamin C comes solely after we devour the quince uncooked. After it’s cooked, a big a part of the vitamin is misplaced.
Their excessive content material of potassium is sweet for the guts as effectively, and in line with analysis, a eating regimen wealthy in potassium protects us from coronary heart illness, whereas decreasing the dangers of hypertension and excessive ldl cholesterol.
Quinces include antioxidants that are good in a single’s eating regimen as they combat towards brokers that injury cells and make one susceptible to severe illnesses corresponding to most cancers. On the identical time, the antioxidants in quince present anti-aging properties too.
Wine produced from quince can also be thought-about very useful for these affected by bronchial asthma.
Uncooked quince can be used towards diarrhea and in line with research it additionally has antiviral properties, which consequence primarily from substances discovered within the pores and skin of the fruit.
Different vital properties of quince embrace soothing an irritated abdomen and bettering digestive operate; its juice, along with the pulp of a roasted or boiled quince, can be utilized as an antiemetic therapy.
Quince comprises cuprum, which has a number of useful results on the physique, because it reduces tissue injury, helps bone and nerve well being, and helps the operate of the thyroid gland, decreasing fatigue and weak spot.
Lastly, their proponents consider that frequent consumption of quinces facilitates the nice operate of our kidneys and liver.
