Top Five Most Expensive & Rare Fruits

What are the top five most expensive fruits in Japan? ... well, here are some facts from walking around Tokyo. Check it out! (92.5 Yen = 1 USD as per today)

1. A home grown Musk Melon at 26,250Yen! ( = USD 283 each)

2. Mango named as Taiyo no Tamago (The Egg of the Sun), claimed to be the Tropical Fruit of Miyazaki Prefecture, sold at 15,750 Yen (= USD 170) each.

3. A 19 cm width cube-shape watermelon - especially grown with the latest patented technique in Kagawa Prefecture. This fruit has brought international attention and is now exported to some cities in South East Asia and Canada, priced at 15,000 Yen locally ( USD 162)

4. A box of red cherry (branded Sato Nishiki) containing 40 pcs, at 11,800 Yen (= USD 127 a box or USD 3 each bite)

(www.satonishiki.com/)

5. Papaya - only the size of an adult fist, grown in Japan, branded National Papaya, at 2,625 Yen (= USD 28 each)

You may be disappointed to know that I have not bought any of those fruits for my own consumption, BUT have done so for "ochugen" instead. The same way i think with most Japanese who purchase these rare and expensive fruits, they usually buy it for gifts more than for their own consumption.

Check out "ochugen" at http://4love4live.blogspot.com/2009/07/o-chugen-gift-giving-today.html

Five Types of Fruit A Day

Since today, July 1st, is noted by the European society as the Fruit Day, i thought it is appropriate to talk about fruits. Fresh fruits contain lots of vitamins as we all know.

Needless to say that to stay healthy we need to consume various types of fruit and vegetables. Those who are not vegetable lovers, may prefer taking "five types of fruit a day!" to eating a combination of five fruits/vegetables a day. Not quite easy in practice ..... actually.

For more about fruit check out:

http://internationalfruitday.jimdo.com/

In Japan every summer around this time we enjoy fruits such as:

1. Cherry

2. Peach

3. Plum

4. Nectarine

5. and coming soon.... Grapes of many colors and sizes.

Some facts:

! Do you know that in most cases it is healthier to eat fruits without peeling because the peel has lots of vitamin? Just be careful when you eat fruits grown with unregulated use of pesticide.

! ! Fruits with many seeds have anti ageing benefits. Five types of fruits a day and pick each of different color. Also choose seasonal fruits because they are more fresh and therefore have the highest content of nutritions.

! Fruits are best eaten in the morning at breakfast and lunch, moderately at dinner time for most effective absorption of vitamins.

Finally, for some funny facts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKp7mhKrQQI