What's The Deal? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Kiwifruit

Native to China, seeds from the fruit were brought to New Zealand at the beginning of the 20th century. The Chinese name was initially changed to 'Chinese gooseberry'. Growers in New Zealand were responsible the commercial development of the fruit. New Zealand is also where the name 'kiwifruit' originated.

The pavlova is an iconic New Zealand dish (or is it Australian?) named after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova. It is often garnished with kiwifruit or strawberries.

Answer: Persimmon

The persimmon originates in Japan, China and Korea. One variety has the scientific name is Diospyros kaki, which gives rise to the alternative name 'kaki'. Some varieties are high in tannin, which makes the fruit astringent. For such fruits, allowing them to soften beyond ripe (a process called bletting) reduces the astringency and can add to the complexity of flavour.

Answer: Avocado

Avocados originally come from Mexico and avocado trees are typically grown in subtropical areas free from frost and high winds. The fruit has a high fat content and therefore can be a useful fat source when other sources, such as fish and animal fats, and milk, are unavailable or not acceptable. The flesh of the fruit is usually eaten raw as cooking can render the food bitter and inedible.

Answer: Loquat

Despite some of its names (Japanese medlar, Japanese plum), it is native to southeast China although it has been naturalised in Japan for over a thousand years. It is an unusual fruit in that it flowers in autumn or early winter with the fruit ripening in late winter or early spring. A useful fruit to fill in a gap in the growing season.

Answer: Tamarillo

Grown in sub-tropical regions around the world, the plant is frost-sensitive. The 'tree tomato' is probably the more common name around the English-speaking world. The 'tamarillo' name is a New Zealand creation for marketing purposes and is now the standard commercial name for the fruit.

Answer: Cape gooseberry

Another South American fruit, it has nothing to do with cherries, berries or even gooseberries. It is closely related to the tomatillo and is in the same family as the tomato, egg plant (or aubergine) and potato. All the other fruits listed exist. The ugli fruit is a hybridised citrus creation.

Answer: Fig

It is a biblical reference. In the Book of Genesis, fig leaves, rather than the fruit, are used by Adam and Eve to cover their nudity. The fig is rich in calcium and dietary fibre as well as being an important source of a variety of minerals. Don't eat too many at one time though as they have a laxative effect.

Answer: Macadamia

Macadamia trees are indigenous to Australia but are now grown commercially for their nuts in a number of countries. In addition to consumption of the nut itself, the oil extracted from the nut is used as a cosmetic ingredient. The macadamia nut is actually a seed contained within a larger fruit.

Take care if you've never had these nuts before as they can cause an allergic reaction in some people. They are also toxic to dogs - as is chocolate, for that matter.

Answer: Blackcurrant

The blackcurrant is a native to northern Europe and Asia. Good for jellies because of its high pectin content, it is also noted for its Vitamin C, phytochemicals and antioxidants.

Growing the blackcurrant was once popular in USA but was banned in the early 20th century. Blackcurrant and gooseberry are carriers of white pine blister rust, which decimated certain native pines. Some US states still maintain a ban to protect the local logging industry although disease-resistant varieties of blackcurrant are now available.

Answer: Mulberry

The nursery rhyme is 'Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush'. The mulberry has been used as a food source for thousands of years and grows in temperate areas around the world. The various species of mulberry tree are unusual in being the sole source of food for the silk worm, the caterpillar of the silkmoth Bombyx mori. The cocoon of the silk worm is the main source for the textile silk.