Nispero Trees

Background on Nispero Trees and Fruit Orchards

When driving around the Costa Blanca particularly the more lush parts you can't help but notice that agriculture is one of the main sources of income. If you ever see fruit orchards entirely covered with fine netting the chances are that they are "Nispero" trees. Nispero is roughly translated to Medlar or Loquat.

The Nisperos that are grown in CALLOSA D’EN SARRIÀ (ALICANTE) are also known scientifically as Eriobotrya japónica which is a tree pertaining to the rosebush family. It is always green and very productive and its remote origins are located in China and Japan. Nispros have a thin skin but at the same time resistant and can be easily peeled. They ripen at the beginning of Spring.

Around a thousand years ago they were used as ornamental trees in China, Japan and India, not being grown as a crop until around 1700. Jesuits took them to the Mauritius Islands; and from here they were first taken to France in 1784 and then to Italy in 1812. They were then introduced into Spain when a merchant seaman named Captain Roig brought them to Sagunto’s harbour and spread them throughout the Eastern and South Eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula.

Nisperos grow best in the Mediterranean Basin due to the excellent climate and grow particularily well in the Marina Baixa Area in the town of CALLOSA D’EN SARRIÁ (Alicante / Spain). I do know of someone who took a nispero stone back to England and planted it in their back garden and now has a healthy nispero tree growing although I'm not sure whether it fruits.

You can find an array of Nispero products here from bottled fruit, jam, honey, nectar and liquor. If you do see any nisperos to buy as a fruit they are about the size of an apricot, slightly oval in shape and yellowish in colour and might look slightly marked or blemished on the skin but this is normal. The taste is actually not too sweet.

Click here to return to list of articles...