Up your beauty game with Apricots!

Ripe and gold with luxurious feel, flavor and velvety surface, apricots are mostly relative with peaches, plums, and nectarines. It is a drupe, with a seed in the centre of the fruit, each in a uniform size. However, not many people know that Apricots are a great source of Vitamin C and can be used to keep the skin healthy throughout changing seasons.

Today, apricots’ primary commercial operations are in the Mediterranean and Middle East, with off season offerings from South America and New Zealand. Apricots are principally known for their essential bitter oil in the world market. The dried version of this fruit is globally loved, and in fact forms an important part of Iran’s global trade. Countries such as Turkey, Italy, Russia, Spain, Greece, USA and France are considered to be the leading producers of apricots. The best way to have apricots is to have them fresh or with salads mixed with dried nuts. Dried apricots are more consumed than the fresh ones. It’s also one of the healthiest fruits in the world, with loads of benefits. Also, ripe apricots are the best antioxidants while consumed fresh.

It’s said that 100 grams of fresh apricots gives you 12% of vitamin C, 12% of vitamin A, and 6% of potassium required by the body – all this under less than 50 calories. Apricots are also a good source of vitamin C, known to ward off vision problems, promote healthy skin mucous membranes, protect lung and mouth cancers, and provide more free radial-scavenging activity in your body.

Myth: Apricot kernel skins are poisonous. 

Truth: This is a myth that has been going around for many, many years. Not sure where it started, but it possibly began with a misinformed chef or recipe. This is a case of broken telephone. The "poison" the skin is meant to contain is the cyanide the flesh of the kernel itself contains.

Apricots were transported to Europe by Greeks who actually called them “golden eggs of the sun”.