The season of ripe plums

Clusters of ripe, glossy black rosehips hang heavily on the branches.

Seeing the trays and baskets of ripe starfruit being sold, so many childhood memories suddenly flooded back to me.

In my village, there's only one rose apple tree, nobody knows how old it is, its trunk is tall and thick, its bark rough. The rose apple ripening season coincides with our summer vacation. On days when we don't have school, we climb the tree together to pick the ripe, sweet fruits, then share them among ourselves.

The crape myrtle is a woody plant with many branches, growing and developing naturally, bearing fruit after a few years. Typically, crape myrtle trees bloom in early summer, with clusters of densely packed white flowers emitting a subtle fragrance.

Over time, those flower clusters are replaced by clusters of young, green fruits. The fruit of the rambutan tree is oval-shaped, about the size of a fingertip, and green when unripe. When ripe, the fruit changes color from green to red, purple, or black.

Plump, ripe star fruit is sold along the roadside.

Under the summer sun, the rose apples ripen quickly; from a distance, you can see dense clusters of heavy, dark, glossy, and plump rose apples hanging on the tree.

The peak season for ripe rose apples is from May to July. To pick rose apples from shorter trees, simply climb up and pick them in clusters. Ripe rose apples fall easily, so for taller trees, nets are stretched around the base, and you can climb up and shake the branches to enjoy the juicy, ripe fruit.

Ripe star fruit is glossy black, plump, and juicy; the darker the fruit, the sweeter it tastes. Freshly picked star fruit has a sweet taste with a slightly sour and astringent flavor and a delicate aroma.

Many people enjoy eating star fruit with chili salt for added flavor. The slightly sour, sweet, and astringent taste, combined with the salty and spicy chili salt, permeates the mouth, leaving a lingering sensation on the tongue; the more you eat, the more addictive it becomes.

Ripe star fruit, when dipped in salt and chili, has an unforgettable taste.

The rose apple is not rare these days. In recent years, rose apples have become more expensive, ranging from 50,000 to 90,000 VND/kg, and are sought after by many people, providing a decent income for many families.

The star fruit is sold at Tac Rang market, Rach Gia City ( Kien Giang ).

The rambutan tree only bears fruit once a year, and when the fruit ripens, many people seek it out to enjoy its characteristic sweet, slightly sour, and slightly astringent taste, as a part of their childhood memories.

Text and photos: TIEU DIEN

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