Nespola giapponese is the fruit known in Britain as the loquat, or Japanese medlar, which is native to China and Japan. The beautiful evergreen tree is often used as a decorative feature in many gardens in the Mediterranean.
Nespole ripen in the early spring and we usually have them in the River Cafe in April. Their skin is orange in colour, and there are distinctive curved stones inside. When ripe, the white to yellow flesh is soft and pear-like in texture, with an acid-sweet, pleasant flavour. However, nespole are not traditionally eaten raw, but cooked for jams. The way we bake them is rather like making jam, as we use lemon juice, vanilla and sugar.