Quince, known to the ancient Greeks as “golden apples”. Photo credit: Frédérique Voisin-Demery / Wikimedia Commons
The ancient Greeks called quince “the golden apple”; This fruit, which has high nutritional and medicinal properties, symbolized love even in ancient times.
December is the month of the quince, a time of year in Greece when the yellow fruit that looks like something between apple and pear is ripe and ideal for sweet recipes.
Eaten raw it is dry and actually tastes sour or bitter. It is generally cooked and, when prepared with the right ingredients, can be used in delicious sweets and a range of other dishes.
More importantly, this “golden apple” has important medicinal properties and high nutritional value, which makes it an important part of the diet.
The quince bush grows wild in the Mediterranean countries and its season is considered to be the end of autumn.
The quince in mythology and tradition
The quince, which originated in the Caucasus, finally reached ancient Greece, where the fruit first appeared in Cydonia (Κυδωνία) in northern Crete, in today’s Chania, where it got its name.
It is generally believed that the quince is even older than the apple, and some believe that many references to “apples” in ancient times actually meant the quince – including the story of the apple that Eve gave to Adam.
The ancient Greeks called them “melimilon”; According to Greek mythology, the quince is associated with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of beauty and love.
In ancient art, Aphrodite is often depicted with a quince, the fruit that symbolizes not only love, but also beauty and fertility.
The ancient Greeks, closely associated with fertility, gave it a prominent place at weddings where it was offered as a gift; the bride also used them to freshen her breath before the ceremony.
In parts of northern Greece, the groom’s family accompanied him to church in the distant past with a stake attached to it with quinces, pomegranates and apples.
In addition, the bride should chew on a quince at the ceremony to ensure that the couple have a baby boy.
Greek tradition also says that if you see a quince in your dreams, you will have happiness and peace in your home.
Nutritional value
So many repeated references to quince in ancient times are no accident, because the fruit contains important vitamins and nutrients that make it one of the healthiest of all fruits.
It is high in water and potassium, but it also contains vitamins A, B complex and C. It is also high in fiber, while its nutrients include phosphorus and iron.
Quince is also rich in tannins, which have powerful antioxidant effects while providing 60 calories per 100 grams.
A “golden apple” a day keeps the doctor away
The benefits of quinces are many, so it is healthy to include them in your diet as often as possible.
It is high in pectin (soluble fiber) which helps control blood cholesterol and prevent constipation, which helps those trying to lose weight.
Pectin is also important for people with type 2 diabetes as it slows the absorption of sugar and stabilizes blood levels.
The high content of vitamin C (a medium-sized piece of fruit provides about 1/3 of the recommended daily dose of the vitamin) also stimulates the immune system.
However, the high dose of vitamin C only comes when we eat the quince raw. Much of the vitamin is lost after cooking.
Their high potassium content is also good for the heart, and research has shown that a diet high in potassium protects us from heart disease while reducing the risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Quinces contain antioxidants that are good in the diet as they fight cell-damaging substances and make you prone to serious illnesses like cancer. At the same time, the antioxidants in quince also show anti-aging properties.
Wine made from quince is also very beneficial for asthmatics.
The raw quince can also be used against diarrhea and, according to studies, also has antiviral properties, which are mainly due to substances contained in the fruit peel.
Other important properties of the quince are relieving an irritated stomach and improving digestive function; its juice can be used as an anti-emetic along with the pulp of a roasted or boiled quince.
Quince contains cuprum, which has several beneficial effects on the body as it reduces tissue damage, supports bone and nerve health, and supports thyroid function, thereby reducing fatigue and weakness.
After all, its proponents believe that frequent consumption of quince promotes the good functioning of our kidneys and livers.
