Fruits of the World: Eggplant

Names:

• Eggplant
• Aubergines

Looks like :

• they come in a wide range of purple shades, and some are even striped

Tastes like :

• The small immature eggplants have the sweetest flavour and firmest flesh

Uses:

• The process of salting and rinsing eggplants to soften the bitterness is no longer frequently practiced, as many of the modern varieties are not that bitter.

Found where :

• The eggplant is related to potatoes, tomatoes and peppers, and are native to India.

Other things you should know about:

• In the 16th century Spain, the eggplant was believed to be an aphrodisiac. Other Europeans believed it caused insanity and called it the mad apple.

More information:

• see list of other world fruits