Dried Apricots

History

The origin of the apricot is threefold as it comes from China, Central Asia and the Caucasus, all areas where the species has been widespread since 3000 BCE. Thanks to the merchant caravans, it spread slowly from those regions to the West, through central Asia, reaching Armenia and the Middle East. Its botanical binomial Prunus Armeniaca owes its name to Linnaeus' conviction that the plant was of Armenian origin. Armenia is still a fundamental diffusion point of this tree, as it was the place from where it was introduced to Greece and Italy, primarily due to the expeditions of Alexander the Great, and then of the Roman general Lucullus, who both acquainted the West with the different varieties of the plant, until then unknown. The Romans introduced it to Italy and Greece in 70-60 BCE, but its spread around the Mediterranean basin was later consolidated by the Arabs. Until the last century, however, apricots were not particularly widespread in Europe or in America, which was reached thanks to the English settlers. The tree also grows naturally in the Himalayas at altitudes of around 3,000 metres as a result of its stem's resistance to the cold climate. As for the name, the Romans called it Armeniacum, which means Armenian apples, because it originated from there; or praecox, which in Latin means ‘early’ because it matured before peaches; from such root we also derive the Greek term 'praikokion'. 'Albicocca' in Italian – as well as the French ‘abricot’, the English ‘apricot’ and the Spanish ‘albaricoque’ – comes instead from the Arabic ‘albarquq’. In turn, the fruit gave its name to a shade of light orange, halfway between yellow and pink.

Apricots can be considered as a source of different phytocomposts such as polyphenols and carotenoids. The polyphenols, such as quercetin and catechin, have a high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect which helps reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Catechin, also responsible for the beneficial effects of green tea, acts by inhibiting the action of pro-inflammatory enzymes. There are also studies that demonstrate how a diet full of catechins can help protecting blood vessels and keep blood pressure under control. Carotenoids are lipid-type vegetable compounds distinguished by their yellow-red colour. They can have both a vitamin effect as precursors of vitamin A and antioxidant activity. Among the carotenoids, we have xanthophylls, compounds that have been the subject of several studies to demonstrate their protective effect on eyesight. Lutein, one of these, is mainly associated with an effect of protection of the retina, the membrane of the eyeball that acts as a light-converter, picking up the light stimuli and converting them into bioelectrical signals, which, in turn, are sent to the brain through the optic nerve fibres. Apricots are rich in fibre, which is essential for the health of the digestive system. A lot of this fibre is soluble and also helps regulating blood cholesterol levels. These fruits are also rich in potassium, a mineral that plays many roles in the body: for example, it plays a crucial role in the functioning of the nervous and muscular systems and helps keeping blood pressure normal.

Source:

Regulation (EU) No. 432/2012 Commission Regulation (EC) dated 16 May 2012

Nutspaper 'Dry Apricot' 1/2016

Properties

According to our analyses, 100 g dried apricots contain:

• Copper (0.37 mg - 38% of NRV)
• Potassium (1330 mg - 67% of NRV)
• Fibre (7.4 g)

Dose recommendations

Each 1 kg package of dried apricots contains about 32 portions of 30 g that provide 20% of the Nutrient Reference Value of Potassium. The beneficial effect of Copper is obtained by a daily intake of about 41 g of product.

Individual needs will vary according to age, gender, weight and physical activity. A varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle are the basis of your well-being.

NB: The characteristic dark colour is a result of the naturalness of the product and the absence of preservatives.

Affordable price

For us, an affordable price means offering dried apricots that are accessible to everyone. 

We select our producers based on our values to offer you only natural nuts and dried fruit with no added sugar (contains naturally occurring sugars). What’s more, by choosing larger pack sizes of natural dried apricots, you too are helping to reduce plastic use, as larger packs require less packaging per kilogramme of product than smaller ones. 

How much does 1 kg of dried apricots cost?

The price per kg for dried apricots depends on the apricots' quality, variety and origin. On Nuturally, we have selected the best dried apricots with respect for our supply chain, farmers, and raw materials.

Storage

You can store naturally-dried apricots away from sources of heat and moisture. Here are 4 useful tips:

• The best way to store dried apricots is in a refrigerated environment. Nuturally dried apricots with no added sugar– (containing only natural sugar)can also be stored easily at room temperature during the winter season. During summer, however, it is advisable to store the product in the refrigerator or in the coolest possible environment, as increased temperatures could encourage decay.
• The ideal container for the storage of dried apricots is glass. Indeed, because of its composition it is impervious to chemical agents and gases, and, as it has excellent insulation properties, it holds the initial temperature longer than other materials. It is even better if the glass is coloured: using coloured glass blocks the entry of certain wavelengths of light (including ultraviolet), and thus certain nutritional and organoleptic characteristics remain unaltered.
• The type of closure of the container is also important as an airtight cap ensures that the food is protected from excessive contact with oxygen, that is fundamental for aerobic bacteria.
• The best kind of storage environment is one which is well ventilated because ventilating the premises keeps internal humidity under control, which otherwise could escape from windows, thereby guaranteeing the right balance to lessen the onset of mould.