Nisperos and Chufas

Marvelous discoveries await you in whichever wrinkle of the world that you decide to snuggle into. For me, some of these fabulous novelties include nisperos and chufas –otherwise known as persimmons and groundnuts.
This delicious, plumb-sized fruit is of a lovely apricot color and includes two shinny seeds inside that hug each other to form a perfect circle. First, you take your nispero in one hand and a knife in the other. Cut the little top stem part off of the nispero using this as a starting point to peel the entire fruit. From top to bottom, using the knife, strip away its skin to find a deceivingly ready looking orange fruit, but don’t forget to cut it open and take out the seeds! At last, you are ready to devour it! Putting it in your mouth, you cannot pin-point exactly what this nispero reminds you of, but you are certain that there is no other fruit quite like it. It is tangy but sweet, with a creamy taste, if that is possible, and a consistency akin to that of a wet peach –only better. It is reminiscent of a nectarine or an apricot, but it lives in a flavor all its own.
Chufas are quite distinct as well, and I fell in love with them instantly! They, as their English name implies, are a sort of nut, but a nut that has a milky juice inside that can be squeezed out and made into a traditional Spanish drink called horchata. (I have not yet tasted this but I’ll let you know how it is when I do.) The dried nut that remains is hard to chew at first, but softens steadily and releases a lovely, soft taste that is something like coconut. It might also remind you a little bit of hazelnut or almond, but, like nisperos, they are unique.
These delicious products of the earth are resent additions to an international list of favorites that I have been amounting. They go on right after custard apples and sugar cane from India and pomegranates and apples from home. French onion soup from France is another recent and wonderful discovery of mine; who could imagine that onion soup topped by bread and melted cheese would be so delightful?!
At any rate, I’m sorry if I’ve made you hungry! Fortunately for you, our preservatives and fast transportation make available many foreign fruits, so you might be able to find all of these foods at you local supermarket! Bon appetite! Or, as the Spanish say, ¡Que aproveche!