Nectarine peaches, more commonly referred to simply as nectarines, are a variety of the fruit that originates from the peach tree, Prunum persica, belonging to the Rosaceae Prunoidee family.
The exceedingly tasty nectarine is easily distinguished from other varieties of peaches, as the skin of the nectarine has is thin, smooth and shiny, which makes it easy to eat without peeling, and its colour drifts from yellow to sunset-red depending on its degree of ripeness.
Their flesh is intense yellow, its texture rather firm as they are less juicy than other types of peaches. Nectarines are the summer fruit par excellence: sweet, fragrant, juicy, and utterly delicious.
Native to China, today peaches and nectarines are also grown in Italy, especially in Campania and Emilia Romagna: 70% of the nectarines produced in Italy come from these two regions. Italy is the third-producing country for nectarines after China and Spain. Many food professionals consider Italian peaches and nectarines to be the finest.
They can be eaten straight out of your hand without peeling, simply washed, as the peel is tender and digestible. Nectarines are the star ingredient in tarts, cakes, ice creams and desserts as well as delicious jams and preserves.
Every part of the nectarine can be eaten, with the exception of the stone, which is hard and woody. Inside that stone is a bitter seed, that if planted and cared for, can sprout into a new plant, your own future nectarine peach tree!
