The Journey of Apricots
Ancient Origins
Apricots are an ancient and widely travelled fruit. Over 4,000 years ago, they were cultivated in China, their country of origin. However, they received their botanical name, Prunus armeniaca, because Armenia introduced them into Palestine sometime before the 10th century. Soon, they began to grow profusely throughout the Holy Land and were called the “apples of gold” by Solomon in the Book of Proverbs.
The Conquests and Discoveries
Alexander the Great discovered them during his campaigns in Asia Minor and took them back to the Mediterranean countries, from where they were exported to Southern Europe. In the 1st century AD, the Roman naturalist Pliny referred to them as Praecocia, meaning “early ripening.” This is where we derive our word “precocious.” The Romans dedicated the fruit to the goddess Venus and used the apricot blossoms, which resemble small white roses with a crimson centre, in love potions and cosmetics.
The Arrival in England
In 1540, the apricot arrived in England. At that time, its name, translated from the Spanish form, was spelt apricot (this can be found written this way in Shakespeare’s Richard the Third, IV, 29, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, III, 1). Our modern spelling is a corruption of the French apricot. Unfortunately, the large apricot trees were difficult to grow in Britain’s climate, as their flower and fruit buds were easily destroyed by spring frosts.
California’s Role
But the apricot’s journey was not over. In the early part of the 18th century, mission fathers took it to California, and it is from the Santa Clara Valley that the finest of all apricots, the Moor Park variety, originate. During the last century, efforts were made to cultivate the fruit on a large scale in England, and by 1822, apricots were in high demand for desserts, jams, and confectionery.
Modern Cultivation
Today, apricot orchards are cultivated in Central and Southeastern Asia, North Africa, and the United States. These drought-resistant trees can live up to a hundred years, and one tree may yield between 200 and 250 pounds of fruit annually.