Qwilux Peaches
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Qwilux peaches vary in size depending on the environmental conditions each year but are generally large, averaging 6 to 8 centimeters in diameter and 6.5 to 7 centimeters in length. They are characteristically round with a smooth, curved nature and showcase a prominent seam down one side of the fruit. Qwilux peaches ripen to a golden yellow hue with faint, red-pink blush spots, and the surface bears a velvety feel, covered in a layer of fine hairs. These hairs, also called fuzz, indicate the fruit’s freshness, as peaches that have been imported or handled roughly often lose this protective layer. The skin is semi-thin, taut, and easily peeled. The flesh ranges in color from white to ivory and is blushed with variegated, marbled hues of red and pink. The flesh also has a soft, tender, aqueous, and succulent texture, encasing a central brown pit. Qwilux peaches emit a subtly floral and sweet scent once ripe and have a mild, sweet, delicate, and floral taste.
Seasons/Availability
Qwilux peaches are available for a limited season in the summer, typically from mid-June through late July. The fruits can sometimes arrive as early as late May, depending on the season and climatic conditions.
Current Facts
Qwilux peaches, botanically classified as Prunus persica, are a region-specific name for peach varieties grown at high altitudes on the Lala Mountain in Taiwan. The name Qwilux is an indigenous moniker derived from the Atayal people, also known as the Taiya, Tayan, and Tayal. The Atayal are one of sixteen indigenous tribes in Taiwan and are considered the most widespread group across the island. In northern Taiwan on the Lala Mountain, members of the Atayal have been cultivating peaches since the mid-20th century. This region is known for its well-draining, rocky soil, high altitude, abundant sunshine, and temperature variation between day and night. This temperature change, along with snowfall in the winter, helps to develop trees that produce peaches with a sweet taste, thin skin, and tender, juicy flesh. On the Lala Mountain, several varieties are cultivated at different elevation levels, and the Qwilux peaches featured in the photograph above were the high-elevation or high-altitude fruits. These peaches are grown between 1000 to 2000 meters in elevation and are harvested once per year. Qwilux peaches are also known as Lala Mountain peaches, Lala peaches, High-Altitude peaches, High-Elevation peaches, and Alpine peaches. The fruits are only produced in limited quantities, and the annual domestic demand for the peaches often exceeds the available supply. Qwilux peaches are harvested once ripe and are a treasured seasonal delicacy, primarily consumed fresh to appreciate their delicate flavor, texture, and appearance.
Nutritional Value
Qwilux peaches have not been extensively studied for their nutritional properties. Peaches, in general, are an excellent source of vitamin C to strengthen the immune system, fiber to regulate the digestive tract, and potassium to balance fluid levels within the body. Peaches also provide vitamin E to guard the cells against free radical damage, magnesium to control nerve functions, vitamin K to assist in helping the blood coagulate when needed, copper to produce red blood cells, zinc to protect against viruses and bacteria, and folate to contribute to healthy cell growth.
Applications
Qwilux peaches have a delicate, sweet, and floral flavor suited for fresh preparations. These seasonal peaches are a summertime delicacy in Taiwan and are primarily eaten raw to savor their melt-in-your-mouth, juicy consistency. Qwilux peaches are typically sliced into wedges and served chilled as a snack or dessert. They can also be displayed on appetizer platters, cheese boards, or as a topping over desserts. The soft nature of the flesh leads the fruits to be handled with care and while they can be added to salads, it depends on the texture of the individual fruit. Qwilux peaches can be served with parfaits or dropped into various beverages as an edible, decorative element. They can also be simmered into jams, jellies, or syrups. Qwilux peaches pair well with spices, including ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom, vanilla, nuts such as pecans, almonds, and hazelnuts, and fruits such as blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. Ripe Qwilux peaches have a short shelf life and will only keep for 3 to 5 days. It is recommended to store the ripe fruits in the refrigerator to help retain the best quality, flavor, and texture.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Peaches, including Qwilux, are often used to make vinegar, which is popularly consumed as a health beverage in Taiwan. The art of making health-related drinks using vinegar dates back to ancient times, but the sweet and sour beverages have recently become a trendy drink of choice across the island in the early 21st century. Vinegar-based beverages are believed to help reduce fatigue, improve overall beauty, and act as a digestive and recovery beverage after exercise. It is also thought that the drinks will have varying impacts on the body, depending on the time consumed. If vinegar drinks are ingested in the morning, they are used to increase movement in the bowels, and in the afternoon and evening, they are drunk after a meal to help with digestion. Qwilux peach vinegar is a method to preserve the flavor of fleeting seasonal fruits for year-round enjoyment. The vinegar has a delicate, fruity, and floral taste and is traditionally mixed with water as an everyday beverage.
Geography/History
Qwilux peaches are native to Taiwan and were thought to have been developed from varieties introduced from Japan in the 20th century. The arrival of peaches in Taiwan is somewhat murky, with some experts estimating that the species, in general, was introduced from China sometime around the 17th century. Later, during the Japanese Colonization period, spanning from 1895 to 1945 CE, additional seeds of various peach varieties were carried into Taiwan and planted throughout the mountain regions. Qwilux peaches are said to be derived from these Japanese-introduced varieties, and the fruits were planted among the Atayal tribe in the Fuxing District, a mountainous district in eastern Taoyuan City, Taiwan, in the mid-20th century. Within this district, Qwilux peaches are primarily grown on the Lala Mountain, also known as Mt. Daguan, Daguanshan, R’ra, and Lalashan. Daguan is a term derived from the indigenous language of the Atayal tribe to mean “a mountain of beautiful scenery,” and Lala is said to have been taken from R’ra, a name meaning “stand on your tiptoes to achieve a further gaze,” referencing the mountain’s high elevation and expansive views. Members of the Atayal tribe began planting peaches as they were a high economic value crop, meaning the sales of the fruit could provide an important source of income for the community. The peaches also developed a sweet taste and soft, tender consistency when grown in higher elevations, allowing the tribe members to produce crops with excellent quality further up the mountain. Today, Qwilux peaches are seasonally cultivated in limited quantities on the Lala Mountain and are sold domestically throughout Taiwan. The peaches are primarily sold directly to consumers or transported to fresh markets as a specialty item. The Qwilux peaches featured in the photograph above were sourced through Jabez Farm, a family-owned and operated farm on the Lala Mountain in the Fuxing District.
