Nowadays, to meet market demand, fruit growers use greenhouses and even growth hormones, allowing us to eat off-season fruits anytime, filling the gap left by seasonal fruits. However, from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, off-season fruits not only have a mediocre taste but can also harm the body if eaten excessively. So, what are the seasonal fruits?
January is for Kiwis
Tips: If the kiwi is too hard, put it in a plastic bag along with a cut pear or apple. Seal the bag for 3-5 days to ripen before eating.
February Sugarcane is Nutritious
Tips: If you eat sugarcane with red pith, you can get poisoned. People with a weak spleen and stomach, or those who suffer from abdominal pain due to coldness, should not eat it.
March is the Right Time for Pineapples
Tips: Slice the pineapple, soak it in light salt water, and then chill it in the fridge. It will be sweeter and more delicious.
April Mangosteen Whets the Appetite
Tips: When selecting a mangosteen, look for one with a green stem and a soft shell. The flesh inside should be pure white. If the shell is as hard as a stone, it's most likely no longer good to eat.
May Strawberries are the Finest
Tips: Do not eat deformed strawberries. Normally grown strawberries are generally heart-shaped in appearance. Deformed strawberries may have a normal color and large size, but have abnormal bulges and are not perfectly heart-shaped, with a hollow center when bitten. These deformed strawberries are often caused by the use of certain plant growth hormones during cultivation and may be harmful to health.
June Belongs to Cherries
Tips: The normal picking season is from mid-June to June 30th. When buying, choose cherries that are plump, firm, and have green stems. They can be stored for 5 days at 3-5°C, or for a maximum of two days at room temperature.
July Peaches are a Whole-Body Tonic
Tips: First, unripe peaches should not be eaten, as they can cause bloating or sores. Second, even ripe peaches should not be eaten in excess, as too many can cause internal heat.
August Watermelons Drive Away Summer Heat
Tips: In summer, you sweat a lot and lose nutrients. Eating some watermelon can not only replenish lost fluids but also add nutrition. However, watermelon is cooling in nature, so people with colds should not eat too much. Those with a naturally weak spleen and stomach, or those with loose stools and diarrhea, should also avoid eating too much.
September Grapes are Antioxidant
Tips: Early-market grapes are generally ripened with agents, have a slightly astringent taste, and contain high levels of hormones, which are not good for the body. It is recommended to eat grapes that are in season.
October White Pears Protect the Lungs
Tips: They promote the production of body fluids and quench thirst. The weather during this time makes it easy to catch colds and have a sore throat, so the most common remedy is boiled white pear.
November Apples are Beneficial for Everyone
Tips: Most apples are on the market in November. Some are best eaten fresh, while others taste better if stored until winter.
December Oranges are High in Vitamin C
Tips: The most famous is the "lu gan" (pomelo). If you want to buy "lu gan," it's best to go to a regular fruit shop, otherwise, you might easily be cheated by street vendors.
Do not consume off-season fruits for long periods; it is best to eat fruits that are in season. Food is composed of its essence, and this essence can only be obtained when it is in season, that is, when its growth and maturation align with the solar terms. Fruits that violate the natural law of growth go against the pattern of spring birth, summer growth, autumn harvest, and winter storage, leading to an imbalance in their nature and a混乱 of their flavor. The famous saying of Confucius was: "不时，不食," which means, "Do not eat that which is not in season."