This Is Not The Illicit Love Child of an Orange and a Banana

As promised, here are a few images of the fragrant Buddha's Hand. As part of the Menu for Hope, I'm putting up some homemade marmalade. You can read more about the cause here. Simple, I know. But considering the deadlines, shopping, cooking, and partying ahead, I've gotta be level-headed about my abilities.

Your own fingers are tempted to play with the slender citron fingers. Grab it from the base and suddenly, the fruit becomes an appendage, a part of you.

The enticing fragrance makes you want to bite into the fruit. But as I said before, that would be a mistake. Because this pretty thing has no flesh and no juice. Just thick skin. Cook it down. Let it rest in a bottle of vodka. Or candy it to savor with a cup of tea.

But the best part is when you take it home and everyone lays eyes on it. Imaginations run wild. "Did an orange and banana get it on?" "Is that a nuclear-agro experiment gone wrong?" Or simply, as said by my friend's kid, "it looks like an octopus!" Yeah, I think so, too.

Comments

[mumu]

that is one crazy looking fruit. i have never seen it before. thanks for sharing.

[Kathy]

What a beautiful fruit!

[farmgirl]

Great photos!

[kalyn]

What an interesting post. Good job woman. You're a great photographer.

[Dwight]

Well...will the wonders never cease? And to think, I was thinking it was...well that's just not appropriate for a family site...;)

[mae]

I've never seen this fruit before neither had i known it even existed. Fiance even sneaked a peek! I wouldn't even know what to do with it if i ever come accross one. This would certainly be an ornament in my house to replace green apples which i normally have.

I'm so simple...

This can also go on the WHB for Kalyn - don't you think? Very interesting.

[LisaSD]

Looks like slices of zucchini, breaded and fried.

[vanessa]

LisaSD—Oooh, a fruit of fried zucchinI! don't get me wrong, i love the flavor of fruit, but how cool if we could have fruit (with its low calories and great health benefits) that tasted like french fries? :)

mae—glad you could see one. I spotted these guys at the market last year. promised myself i'd get some this year after reading up on it. yes, it's an eye-catcher (heavenly scent, too). But no, you are far from simple. Besides, you can eat the green apples.

Dwight—what a naughty thought!

kalyn—thanks! it's nice to show folks that we can get different things in utah :)

farmgirl—i had a great time shooting them. I was at the checkstand when i realized the light would be really good. so i pulled out the digi and ask if could use their back counter and went at it. Yeah, i'm a total food nerd. but i blame it on the blog.

kathy—it's stunning. i felt bad slicing it up! but it tastes really good, especially with yogurt for breakfast.

mumu—thanks for visiting the site. the fruit is certainly unique. and wonderfully ancient.

[BNA]

Ok, when I read the title of this post, I almost choked on my tea. Brilliant. And beautiful too!

[steven]

The discovery of fruit like Buddha Hand is certain to heighten one's quest for a reality check when it comes to a diversion from ordinary fruit. If only the masses could experience the beauty of food in its ancient state!

Thanks for sharing.