Haven’t you noticed how the days are getting longer and the nights shorter? Except for a few rain showers to cool the day, the humidity is slowly setting in, and the temperature rising. Yes, it can only mean one thing – it’s summer once again. But before you buy a ticket off to a cooler place, think again. This is the best time to savor our land’s sweetest harvest.

   Summer to most Filipinos can only mean two things: swimming sprees and picnics. I’m not much of a swimmer so let me just dwell on your picnic basket. And mind you, no picnic basket could be complete without the freshest fruits in season. Let’s see how we can tickle your fancy with a large fruit plate.

   The Philippines has a great variety of tropical fruits that have made us a popular destination of tourists. Our mangoes are by far, are the best in the world. We also pride ourselves with golden pineapples, bananas, papayas, avocados, rambutan, tamarind, guavas, and passion fruit. Fresh off the trees or chilled, savoring the goodness of a fruit lies not only in its sweetness but knowing how good it is for our health.

MANGOES

   The mango is the most popular fruit in the world. In earlier years, we could only enjoy this great fruit during the summer. But thanks to technology, mangoes are harvested in the Philippines the whole year round. The abundance of the fruit comes during these months, which gives us the cue to indulge. Bet you didn’t know that mangoes are a good source of Vitamins A & C and contains beta carotene too.

   This is one fruit that you shouldn’t judge by its color. Although it is true that the darker orange flesh is more ripe, that will also depend on the variety of the fruit. Some varieties exceed their sweetness without reaching their full orange color. The key to selecting a good mango is the firmness of its flesh. A ripe mango will yield to the slight pressure between your hands and will emit a sweet aroma from the stem end of the fruit. If you buy your mangoes green, you will have to rely on the word of your grocer. Mangoes kept under room temperature for three to five days. My grandmother taught me that burying the mangoes in your rice bin will speed up the process. When these ripen, they will keep well for a couple of days in the refrigerator, a week at most.

   I believe that the best way to enjoy your mango is still fresh chilled. At their ripest, make a luscious Mango Cream Pie. When they’re too ripe already, they can be pureed and kept in the freezer. Frozen mango puree slices well like butter and makes a great topping for sorbets, chops, and country fried chicken. Remember not to add sugar or water to your puree. Another way to save those ripe mangoes is to make them into a jam. This is achieved by slow cooking over low fire, with or without the addition of sugar, depending on your preference. While unripe, the famous green mango is best enjoyed with our favorite alamang bagoong. My way of savoring this is pickled, cooked in vinegar and sugar. Served with almost any dish, the mango is truly a delight.

BANANAS

   All kinds of bananas are available in the summer. The lakatan is the orange sweet medium sized variety. This is great for eating and my personal preference for a good Banana Walnut Cake. Latondan has white flesh and shorter, sometimes fuller in diameter compared to the Lakatan. This is popular to have curative effects for diarrhea due to its thick starch content. Too much makes you constipated but it’s the best variety for your baby.

   Bananas do not grow on trees. They grow on plants that are giant herbs and are related to the lily and orchid family. They are harvested green, when the corners grow round and plump, and let to ripen for days. They are a great source of potassium, fiber and Vitamin C. They are low on calories and contain no fat, cholesterol, and sodium.

   Enjoy your bananas sliced and cold on cereal for breakfast, as pancakes or muffins. Snack on it or make it your dessert. If you can’t get to make your kids eat bananas, try dipping them in chocolate syrup and freezing them like lollipops. You’ll soon realize that you can’t keep them away from the fruit.

PAPAYAS

   Botanically, the papaya is a berry that is rich in Vitamin C and a good source of fiber and foliate. It is also known as the “medicinal tree” since both its seeds and leaves are used for making medicine. Papaya can also be used as a meat tenderizer as it breaks down protein in meat.

   Papayas are easy to pick out. The color of the skin turns from green to yellow towards ripening. When it is soft to the touch, then it is ready for eating. When you buy an unripe papaya, store it in a dark place for about three days until ripe. Enjoy your papaya at its sweetest eaten with a spoon. Sprinkle with a little calamansi or lemon juice and see how it boosts the taste of your fruit. Papayas can also be pureed, made into a nutritious fruit shake, or in its young stage made into pickle relish we call atsara.

PINEAPPLES

   Pineapples are picked ripe from the plant and will not ripen any to sweetness. When choosing a pineapple, look for fresh, green leaves and be certain that there are no wilted or brown leaves. The flesh should be firm to touch without any soft spots, which may indicate rotting. The best way to enjoy the fruit is the simplest – fresh. For intricate desserts, canned pineapple is best. Remember to open that can and let it sit for an hour to bring out the freshness of the fruit.

AVOCADOS

   Avocados contain seventeen vitamins and minerals and have more potassium than all other fruits. It is picked from the tree green in color and can only be eaten when it turns black. Mashed, avocado makes great guacamole for those tortillas. Kids love them with condensed milk or made into ice cream.

   Our list can go on and on and our mouths water just talking about all this freshness. What is important is to enjoy your fruit while it is in season. Over a cake, fried and on a stick as banana-cue, made into tropical ice cream, or a sorbet. Unripe papaya at its best as pickle relish, together with other vegetables. Made into a barbecue marinade and cooked as a fruit jam are other ways we enjoy the fruit of our fancy. You can never go wrong with fruits but do watch your intake. Remember that too much of anything is not good. So, eat healthy, be wise and live long. For comments and suggestions you can email me at Pattycakes@I-manila.com.ph.