Fruits are available year-round now, so you can buy whatever you want. However, fruits that are in season are the best. Besides their less authentic flavor, off-season fruits may also be artificially ripened, which is a cause for concern. What are the best fruits to eat each month? Are there any special considerations when eating fruits...
January — Persimmons, Kiwis
If the kiwi is too hard, put it in a plastic bag along with a cut pear or apple. Seal the bag and leave it for 3-5 days to ripen before eating. Persimmons can help relieve fatigue, but eating too many can easily lead to "heatiness" (internal heat).
February — Sugarcane
In winter, it's best to cut the sugarcane into 20-30 cm sections, boil them for about ten minutes, then peel and eat them while hot. This is sweeter than eating it raw. Sugarcane juice is also popular now for its refreshing and delicious taste.
March — Pineapple
Slice the pineapple and soak it in light salt water. Chill it in the freezer before eating for a sweeter and more delicious flavor.
April — Mangoes, Mangosteens
When selecting mangosteens, look for ones with green stems and a slightly soft shell. The flesh inside should be pure white. If the shell is as hard as a stone, it's probably no longer good to eat. (The more leaves on a mangosteen, the more segments it usually has inside, typically four or more).
May — Strawberries, Lychees
In April and May, many places hold strawberry-picking festivals. The lychees that appear in May are often early-maturing varieties like "Sanyuehong," which have a slightly sour taste and are considered mid-to-low grade. The best time for lychees is mid-June, when premium varieties like "Nuomici," "Feizixiao," and "Guiwei," known for their sweet, rich flavor, start to become available.
June — Cherries
Normal harvesting time is from mid-June to June 30th. When buying, choose cherries that are plump, firm, and have green stems. They can be stored for up to 5 days at 3-5°C, but at room temperature, they will last for a maximum of two days.
July — Peaches, Plums
"Peaches fill you up, but plums hurt you," so it's fine to eat peaches as a meal, but plums should be eaten in moderation. Eating too many plums can easily cause nosebleeds.
August — Watermelon
In summer, you sweat a lot and lose nutrients. Eating watermelon can help replenish lost fluids and add nutrition. However, watermelon is cooling, so people with colds should not eat too much of it.
September — Grapes
Early-market grapes are often artificially ripened (aside from early-maturing varieties), tend to have a slightly sour and astringent taste, and may contain high levels of hormones, which is not good for your health. It's recommended to eat grapes that are in season.
October — Pears
Pears promote the production of saliva and quench thirst. The weather during this time can easily lead to colds and sore throats, so boiled white pears are a popular remedy.
November — Apples
Most apples are available in November. Some are best eaten fresh, while others taste better if stored until winter.
December — Tangerines
The most famous variety is the "Lu Gan" (loquat tangerine). If you want to buy Lu Gan, it's best to go to a reliable fruit shop; otherwise, you're easily cheated by street vendors.