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The indescribable scent of feijoa – the exotic fruit that became the smell of New Zealand childhood | New Zealand

The indescribable scent of feijoa – the exotic fruit that became the smell of New Zealand childhood

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/24/the-indescribable-scent-of-feijoa-the-exotic-fruit-that-became-the-smell-of-new-zealand-childhood

Inspired by her own personal obsession, award-winning journalist and author Kate Evans dives into the unique charm of the feijoa

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pluckytree

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I used to live in California where a neighbour had a massive feijoa tree. There were a lot of big fruit trees around, so it was common for people to put out a bag of fruit near the street and people would snatch them up.

I stumbled upon this full bag of feijoas one day in front of their house and squealed FEIJOAS! (They call them pineapple-guavas there). I took only a handful because I didn’t want to be greedy. The next day I walked by and clearly no one had taken any so I took more. A few more days and I was snatching the remainder. The homeowner came out and chatted with me. She said they’d been putting out what they’d couldn’t eat for years and hardly anyone ever takes them. I told them to let me know whenever they had any and I’d take them.

Eventually, she started leaving bags of fruit on my porch during fruiting season. And that’s how I got free feijoa delivery. One year I made chutney and jam!

As an interesting side note, the “pineapple-guava” tree is actually a very popular landscape plant in the US. But whenever I’ve stumbled upon them in fruiting season, fruit is rotting in the ground or being eaten by crows.

liv

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That's really fascinating!! Cool that you had your own supply.

I was going to say weird about them not eating feijoas but Ithink loquats are like that in NZ, especially in Auckland. There are heaps of loquat trees that no one harvests. I used to eat a lot from them in my student days.

Dave

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Weird, I don't think I've ever seen them. But this says they can grow in most areas of NZ, so it doesn't seem like a problem with range. It also says you can roast and grind the seeds and use them like coffee!

liv

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They grow quite big and their fruits are small, about the size of a 20c piece, so people probably don't notice them unless their brain already has them filed away as a food source. The last lot I had were from the side of the road.

Turns out Aucklanders are not allowed to plant them any more!

That's interesting about drinking the seeds. Wonder if it's nice.

Dave

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Ah, well I'm back to thinking it's a range thing. They probably can grow all over the country, but perhaps they spread themselves in the warmer parts of the country so you're far more likely to see them than in areas they have trouble spreading.

liv

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Come to think of it when I lived in Wellington I hardly saw any.