MEDRONHO : How Portugal Is Bringing Back This Forgotten Fruit (Strawberry Tree Fruit)

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.ค. 2024
  • Episode 678: Madroño
    Species: Arbutus Unedo
    Location: Alqueva, Portugal
    If you are in Portugal, check out:
    Herdad de Rio Torto Hotel for arranging my tour: www.herdaderiotorto.com
    The Medronho Museum & Distillery: www.museudomedronho.pt
    And thank you again to Julio and Samuel for sharing such an incredible experience with me.
    Thank you to my circus friends, check them out on the social medias:
    Brian: ‪@ObsidianDandy‬
    Nina: Follow on IG: @nalinamann
    Tad: www.cirquetacular.com/
    Tori: Follow on IG: @con_tori_tion
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    + MUSIC:
    "Nonstop" By Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
    Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
    creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
    ---
    + SPECIAL THANKS:
    Smarter Every Day, Loftyrex, JMac
    00:00-01:28 What is Madrono?
    01:28-05:49 Aguardiente de Madroño Review in Portugal
    05:49-09:42 How Arbutus Unedo is Grown
    09:42-11:06 Madrono Cookies Review
    11:06-13:36 History of The Strawberry Tree
    13:36-18:18 Visiting The Madronho Museum
    18:18-19:22 Arbutus Jam Review
    19:22-24:40 How Madronho Alcohol is made
    24:40-25:57 Strawberry Tree Fruit Chocolates
    25:57-30:07 What Madrono tastes like and how to use it
    30:07-31:35 Final Thoughts
  • บันเทิง

ความคิดเห็น • 909

  • @WeirdExplorer
    @WeirdExplorer  ปีที่แล้ว +63

    Over the next few days a LOT of exclusive footage for this episode will be going up on Patreon. Check it out over at: www.patreon.com/weirdexplorer

    • @robsonwilianwinchester9726
      @robsonwilianwinchester9726 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Very interesting 🤔 indeed. I'm your Brazilian fan Jared go to southern Brazil states like Rio grande do Sul!!! We have monkey puzzle 🎍 pines and butiás palms 🌴 also try bananas🍌 like caturra etc!!! Is infinity possible in this world 🌍🌎 to try fruits and veggies!!!

    • @dougs_urbanfarm
      @dougs_urbanfarm ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Next level Jared, this would not look out of place as a TV show. Great episode.

    • @alessandromariani3015
      @alessandromariani3015 ปีที่แล้ว

      It's called corbezzolo .. not strawberry tree xD

    • @alessandromariani3015
      @alessandromariani3015 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@ricardohorta7004 Is Aguardente de Medronho a Portugal Medronho variety?

    • @ICONOCLAST5.56
      @ICONOCLAST5.56 ปีที่แล้ว

      17:42 Oh I didn't realize there were other visitors in the museum lol

  • @uHaveMe
    @uHaveMe ปีที่แล้ว +453

    Fun fact: in Italy its called corbezzolo, and some people considered this plant the simbol of Italy, as it has the three distinctive colors of Italy (green leaves, white flowers and red fruit).

    • @WeirdExplorer
      @WeirdExplorer  ปีที่แล้ว +68

      So interesting! Is the alcohol popular there? I did a bit of digging on how it was used in Italy but didn't find too much information.

    • @creeper_rrr4437
      @creeper_rrr4437 ปีที่แล้ว +33

      @@WeirdExplorer its alcohol is only made in few zones and regions of Italy

    • @wiscopolo44
      @wiscopolo44 ปีที่แล้ว +51

      You mean Italy’s symbolic plant isn’t the rare Neapolitan pizza tree?

    • @meisteremm
      @meisteremm ปีที่แล้ว +29

      @@wiscopolo44 That's the craziest thing I have ever heard.
      Everyone knows that pizzas grow as tubers.

    • @alexny1173
      @alexny1173 ปีที่แล้ว +27

      @@WeirdExplorerin Sardinia they make a really nice bitter honey from corbezzolo trees but it’s pretty hard to find nowadays as the production is pretty low due the the short and I believe late flowering season of the tree.

  • @censusgary
    @censusgary ปีที่แล้ว +334

    There’s nothing like a liquor review by a man who never touches a drop.

    • @WeirdExplorer
      @WeirdExplorer  ปีที่แล้ว +85

      haha, I'm glad I had friends there to try it too. They did a far better review than I could ever do.

    • @robertanderson3310
      @robertanderson3310 ปีที่แล้ว +39

      He did touch *one* drop

    • @tantamounted
      @tantamounted ปีที่แล้ว +13

      The moment was glorious. I also rarely drink even though I love a good beer or cider, and I would gladly have had that shot of liquor.

  • @Urbangardener1
    @Urbangardener1 ปีที่แล้ว +125

    When I told the people on my garden page that this plant was edible, everybody was really surprised. It is grown as an ornamental plant on most of their properties

    • @Balls2YourMom
      @Balls2YourMom ปีที่แล้ว +3

      yeah saw these all over berkley and santa cruz when i visited

    • @markiangooley
      @markiangooley ปีที่แล้ว +11

      In northern peninsular Florida it’s loquat trees grown as ornamentals but almost nobody eats the fruit. I suspect the trees are never selected for higher-quality fruit either.

    • @awkwardlyrachel5524
      @awkwardlyrachel5524 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      I think there's one of these trees in the front of my apartment complex in Northern California. I also had no idea the fruits were edible, though I've always thought it was quite a shame that such pretty fruits were poisonous/inedible. I'm fixin' to try one when they're growing next.

    • @jeffharper9703
      @jeffharper9703 ปีที่แล้ว

      PHAEBRIËL DADDY'O ! ! !

    • @esmeraldagreen1992
      @esmeraldagreen1992 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      ​@@markiangooley
      Loquats are delicious I used to eat them all the time when I was little, but they don't grow or are available where I live now

  • @amniote69
    @amniote69 ปีที่แล้ว +175

    Medronheiros (strawberry trees) are being pushed in some parts of central Portugal as an alternative to eucalyptus plantations. The fruit has a reputation for fermenting on the tree before it falls, and for this reason children are warned not to eat too many! I've eaten mildly alcoholic medronhos. They get muskier, heading towards mango, perhaps.
    Loved this episode. Thank you for sharing all this.

    • @jannikheidemann3805
      @jannikheidemann3805 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Mangos, bananas and kiwis also ferment by themselves. Was never warned about that.

    • @christajennings3828
      @christajennings3828 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      ​@@jannikheidemann3805fermented kiwi is awful. I have a hard time getting my kiwis to ripen, we don't get enough heat. So I leave them on the vine as long as possible. Sometimes I wait a little too long, and we get a frost. When the fruit thaws, it ferments, and is ruined.

    • @antoniobranco5513
      @antoniobranco5513 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Quando o medronho está muito maduro , o fruto fermenta na árvore ,, e fica alcoólico... Os pássaros sabem disso , é apanham monumentais bebedeiras... também têm direito , coitados...
      É vê-los voar aos ssss...

    • @paulo6456
      @paulo6456 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@jannikheidemann3805 these fruits in particular tend to ferment in the stomach, which makes people drunk easily, 10 or so fruits are enough for that.

    • @jannikheidemann3805
      @jannikheidemann3805 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@paulo6456 Wouldn't the stomach acid kill off yeast that make alcohol, or do the enzymes from the yeast keep working while attacked by stomach acid and the proteolytic enzymes it contains?

  • @gingermany6223
    @gingermany6223 ปีที่แล้ว +107

    I love finding highly specific, hyper local museums like that while traveling.

  • @boofriggityhoo
    @boofriggityhoo ปีที่แล้ว +117

    My neighbor had two of these trees and everyone told me they were poisonous as a kid, but when I saw the birds eating them up I figured they must be fine (probably not the best logic children, don't do that lol). I used to LOVE them! I was even looking for the name of this childhood fruit by typing a description into Google with no luck. Thanks for finally helping me figure it out! I bet it would make great cookies and bread, like a persimmon. It can have a similarly sweet, slightly dry flavor that would make for a really nice compliment to something with butter in it I bet!

    • @plants_before_people5329
      @plants_before_people5329 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      Haha, yeah in this case it's fine but birds don't digest seeds so certain plants have poisonous seeds to prevent mammals from eating them, cause they digest the seeds and then get sick or die. The plants want birds because they can still spread the seeds in poop. A good example of this is the Yew tree (taxus). It's seeds are deadly poisonous but the fleshy surrounding is edible and sweet

    • @saulemaroussault6343
      @saulemaroussault6343 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Oooh ! Yes ! I always eat them raw but your suggestions sound nice. I’ll try it when I get some next time :)

    • @dankline9162
      @dankline9162 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@plants_before_people5329
      Hey cool! That's exactly what I was thinking of- the yew berries on the hedges were mysterious to see as a kid, and they still are!

    • @esmeraldagreen1992
      @esmeraldagreen1992 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I love persimmons

    • @Barberserk
      @Barberserk 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Eat them fresh, make them into jam, mix them with other fruits, put them in cakes... I love them.

  • @trentgraham465
    @trentgraham465 ปีที่แล้ว +99

    I really liked seeing the reactions of all the performers. They all seemed really nice, and it was kind of nice to get a peak into another part of your life.

    • @Psilomuscimol
      @Psilomuscimol 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Peek

    • @Psilomuscimol
      @Psilomuscimol 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Peak is the highest point of something.

  • @evanever
    @evanever ปีที่แล้ว +50

    I stand by Arbutus as being genuinely good fruit that should be cultivated more. The outer grit may be unpleasant but, if you leave them for a day, they get this beautiful custard consistency and taste like tangy blueberry and banana.

    • @AnoujRajput
      @AnoujRajput หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I read a lot that they taste of nothing, maybe they need a warmer climate than the UK to taste good.

  • @jhamk1676
    @jhamk1676 ปีที่แล้ว +57

    I'm french and I remember very well my sister eating those fruits when visiting family in the south of France, we call them "arbouse" there

    • @julienhennequart33
      @julienhennequart33 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Yess! also french here, they are also very common in the pine forests of the oceanic southwest.
      I was told when I was a kid to avoid eating them as they would give you diarrhea if you eat too many.
      As you said they are a bit grainy and sometime a bit astringent.

  • @BSIII
    @BSIII ปีที่แล้ว +78

    You're out here putting in professional quality content for us, and it's appreciated. The amount of detail you go through for each fruit, including the multiple uses for it, and showing the processes behind those uses is amazing. Better than anything you'll find on TV.
    Good work

  • @ChicoBranquinho
    @ChicoBranquinho 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

    So proud as a Portuguese to see nice people discovering the culture of my homeland 🇵🇹❤🌎

  • @geomundi8333
    @geomundi8333 ปีที่แล้ว +25

    worked in the mountains of california and these grow all over in the seirra mountains. first they smell like honey and attrack flocks of hummingbirds; then they have these delicious fruit in copious amounts. The trees are very beautiful in structure, bark, and leaves too; much more imho than the famous redwoods. The wood is purple inside and bark is like painted eucalypts but bit less colorful

    • @HansLemurson
      @HansLemurson ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I wonder how related it is to our native Madrone and Manzanita.

    • @kylemeyer4266
      @kylemeyer4266 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      This was probably the pacific mandrone.

    • @HansLemurson
      @HansLemurson ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I looked it up and Madronho (Strawberry Tree) and Pacific Madrone are both in the _Arbutus_ genus.

    • @mollyx9120
      @mollyx9120 9 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I live in California and I’ve tasted both type of madrone berries and they taste similar imo, but pacific madrone berries are just smaller. Native people here use the berries similar ways and the bark can be used as well I believe. Not as similar to manzanita but they are related, all are in the same family together with blueberries and huckleberries. I wish we had a museum here for pacific madrone or manzanita!

    • @saoirsecameron
      @saoirsecameron วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@HansLemursonextremely closely. Madrone is in the same genus Arbutus, Arctosaphylos is the next most closely related genus in the family.

  • @joaopepa
    @joaopepa ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Portuguese Subscriber here ! Happy to see our Medronho

  • @Inkwell_Animations
    @Inkwell_Animations ปีที่แล้ว +78

    I’ve bine watching you ever since you made your earlier episodes in the 100s. It is incredible to see your channel grow and evolve over the years. You have keeped me entertained for years and I thank you deeply for it.❤

  • @mikedrop4421
    @mikedrop4421 ปีที่แล้ว +40

    These are the best episodes!
    Edit: The Chapel of bones is wild!

    • @WeirdExplorer
      @WeirdExplorer  ปีที่แล้ว +9

      It was really cool! Its not as popular as the bone church in Czechia, but still very impressive.

  • @ogreenius
    @ogreenius ปีที่แล้ว +44

    As someone who loves both novel fruits *and* spirits (often made from fruit), this was a really fascinating episode! Thanks for delving into this aspect of things despite being a non-drinker! We appreciate your sacrifice. 🙂 And if you ever need a spirit taster to explore more of that side of things, I'm your guy. 😉

    • @bigjay875
      @bigjay875 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Everyone knows drunken teams are always funnier than one drunken person and would like to offer my service as a drinking pall👍😊

  • @lasagnahog7695
    @lasagnahog7695 ปีที่แล้ว +25

    I was exactly in the mood for half an hour of Weird Explorer.
    I particularly enjoyed this one. It's so cool that there was a whole museum for the fruit.

  • @jorgefortes6674
    @jorgefortes6674 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I am an amateur botanist and I've travelled all over Portugal. I saw the biggest trees of Arbutus unedo on the inner north of Portugal, close to the mountains. Some of them were quite thick and I think also very old. I lived close to Sintra and it was wild there and the fruits were quite bigger than the ones from the south. Also there a person told me that he had climbed this tree to feed on the fruits only to find himself on the ground passing out after eating 0,5 Kg. The effect was sudden and unexpected...

    • @ncmcdonnell5486
      @ncmcdonnell5486 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks for the warning!

    • @priscillahernandez8193
      @priscillahernandez8193 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      From the alcohol content, the fruits were probably fermented!

    • @jorgefortes6674
      @jorgefortes6674 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@priscillahernandez8193 Tks, the problem is that part of that alcohol is methanol which has to be extracted.

  • @JessHull
    @JessHull ปีที่แล้ว +10

    What a fun episode! I have these growing all through my neighborhood in Central California. When they're in fruit I'll pick them and eat them while walking my dog. Several times I've had people stop me and tell me I'm going to get sick because they're poisonous and I have to explain to them they're not and they're an edible fruit that's eaten all over the world and they always either are surprised and want to try it. Or they don't believe me and say I'm crazy.

  • @RUNESANEINTHEBRAIN
    @RUNESANEINTHEBRAIN ปีที่แล้ว +14

    I absolutely ADORE that you've given each of your performer buddies a chance to shine with their work and websites too

  • @stephenworthington-white8294
    @stephenworthington-white8294 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    If you ever find yourself in Czechia there is a small yet very impressive Church of Bones there as well, also because of the plague. In that one they even use finger bones to write some dates and names on the wall. My favourite part was the chandelier made from hip bones!! Thanks for another great video!!!

  • @piratarest
    @piratarest ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Portuguese viewer here, Im glad you visited our little country, its always cool to see our traditions being enjoyed by people from all over the world, next you should visit Madeira Island, it has lots of unusual fruits! For example search for: "Maracujá-banana" its a yellow soft skin passion fruit, very bitter but good

  • @loganlogon3720
    @loganlogon3720 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    Kinda like I said with the last one about colab episodes, you seem to have a real knack for finding awesome people as well as fruit. It's so cool that you're able to share your passion not just on TH-cam but with real, physically there people. Thank you Jared and to everyone who stood by him!

  • @lucracLucian
    @lucracLucian ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Funny, I was in Algarve just 2 weeks ago and brought with me a bottle of medronho moonshine. So i had a shot while watching your video. Also, found 1 medronho fruit in the car today and got a few seeds from it that I'll try to grow :)

    • @WeirdExplorer
      @WeirdExplorer  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Ha what a coincidence!

    • @lucracLucian
      @lucracLucian ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@WeirdExplorer indeed :)
      Thank you for your videos!

  • @danielpirone8028
    @danielpirone8028 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    As a seattlite, I can confirm - these are everywhere in the PNW. I have 4 in my yard. Time to see if I can make some use of them.

    • @marymcandrew7667
      @marymcandrew7667 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I'm surprised they grow so well there, it seemed like they were good for arid areas. I'm glad to hear it though, I live in the Scottish Borders and it gets a lot of rain! I'd love to try growing one.

  • @woahemiee
    @woahemiee ปีที่แล้ว +34

    I love how seriously he took this episode. It actually felt like an episode of a show. Very awesome production value and I loved how this video was long as well. As I said before it's like a TV show. :)

  • @Cinestesic
    @Cinestesic ปีที่แล้ว +17

    Love that you came to my country, and tasted one of most traditional wild fruits and its mostly famous alcoholic beverage! I have to point out just on thing, ''Madroño'' and ''aguardiente'' are spanish words, its very similar in portuguese tho ''Medronho'' and ''aguardente''. The NHO sylabal spells like the spanish ''Ñ''. On a curious note, ''aguardente'' is a junction of ''água'' and ''ardente'' literally meaning ''Burning water'' 😁

  • @Simonadas04
    @Simonadas04 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Shoutout to Julio and to the herdade do rio torto I go there almost every year!
    Regards, Simão

    • @WeirdExplorer
      @WeirdExplorer  ปีที่แล้ว

      that's awesome! tell him I say hi next time you go :)

    • @Simonadas04
      @Simonadas04 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@WeirdExplorer sure will man

  • @Cesc8170
    @Cesc8170 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    This is a the next level fruit explorer. Tomorrow I will go and pick the last ones of the season. I've planted a few more than the ones I had in my field because they are very resistant in eastern spain and the fruits taste nice and have antioxidants . Used as a garden plant and in reforestation projects.

  • @Xarlable
    @Xarlable ปีที่แล้ว +74

    as a portuguese guy the way you butcher our words hurts but its understandable and this is probably one of your best episodes, extremely well done and entertaining. here's to more!

    • @adrianamatos166
      @adrianamatos166 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Another portuguese here! Its very funny to listen foreign people trying to say portuguese words! I loved this episode, well done!

    • @carlasantos8996
      @carlasantos8996 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Had the same reaction...oh please, at least say medronho well. But it had brilliant content. Really enjoy watching it and actually learn new stuff, like the existence of a museum. Great job!!!

    • @dinnae
      @dinnae ปีที่แล้ว +9

      MADRONO

    • @esmeraldagreen1992
      @esmeraldagreen1992 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      ​@@adrianamatos166
      In Italian you vould spell medronho as medrogno
      Gno in Italian sounds the same ad nho in Portuguese

    • @ana-wb6dt
      @ana-wb6dt 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      also the J is NOT like in spanish. It’s pronounced like the J in jam not ham.

  • @eryck123
    @eryck123 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I'm from Northern Europe and I didn't even know this existed. Thank you! Also what a lovely musem, maybe i'll visit Portugal in the near future.

  • @Luke_Halpin
    @Luke_Halpin ปีที่แล้ว +7

    This video is really exciting to me! When I first moved to California, the property I lived on had many types of Arbutus trees, and when I did some research I learned about Madroño. I tried to make my own and while the result was far from what it should have been, it was still delicious and my friends and family enjoyed it! I also made a jam using the fruit. It was very nice. Reminded me of a light apricot jam.

  • @gisela1477
    @gisela1477 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    In Catalonia we call it "cirera d'arboç" and we also forage it to make jam, liquor, honey, cookies and pies, but usually you have to go to the countryside to find them.

    • @richardportman8912
      @richardportman8912 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      One time my co - worker and i had some free time and so we were eating these delicious small sour plums. She was a country person from Jalisco. I asked her what do you call these? She said ciruela. It was a diffferent fruit, but it is nice to see that word again.

    • @gisela1477
      @gisela1477 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@richardportman8912 That's cool. Ciruela means plum in Spanish, and cirera means cherry in Catalan (and plum is pruna). Madroño means strawberry tree fruit in Spanish, and cirera d'arboç or arborçer means strawberry tree fruit in Catalan. But if your co-worker was from Mexico and referred to a sour fruit as Ciruela, it seems to me that it was a different fruit he/she was referring to, or at least, a plum variety unusual in Spain, because here in the peninsula plums tend to the sweet side unless unripe. I'm really curious about what fruit it was, as fruit and veggie names might vary quite a bit from American Spanish varieties to the Spaniard one.

  • @SteamingBurito
    @SteamingBurito ปีที่แล้ว +8

    I can trace my heritage to Portugal and the Azores, I'd love to visit someday

  • @OverlordMaggie
    @OverlordMaggie ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Memories of visiting the Potato Museum in PEI as a child... And being delighted by how interesting I found it!

  • @wdwerker
    @wdwerker ปีที่แล้ว +12

    One of the best episodes I’ve seen! A lot of us are curious about your performance as well as the fruit. Showing each of the talents was very gratifying. I’ve really learned to appreciate your ability to taste and describe flavors. I also enjoy how you express your preferences about food and alcohol without getting judgmental or preachy.

  • @monion9898
    @monion9898 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    The one you found in Seattle may have been Pacific madrone, a different sp. native to north America. There's a handful of spp. native to each the new and old world.

  • @joshs8738
    @joshs8738 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Used a lot as an ornamental in Northern California! There are a couple in the parking lot at my work and I always sample a few when I see ripe ones.

  • @christopherbrand5360
    @christopherbrand5360 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I never imagined that this would include the description of tourist migrant labor practices! What an awesome business model. The cameo by your associates was a gem as well :)

  • @pralta4939
    @pralta4939 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    this grows everywhere in woodlands of coastal Turkey. In istanbul you can find and collect this fruit easily October-December.

    • @WeirdExplorer
      @WeirdExplorer  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Interesting! How are they used in Turkey?

    • @pralta4939
      @pralta4939 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@WeirdExplorer raw eating only by some people.sometimes for marmalade.
      its unknown for majority.

  • @paulus.tarsensus
    @paulus.tarsensus ปีที่แล้ว +10

    One of your best episodes ever. Really. The Distillery was A+. It was also great to meet some of the Joes and Betties you work with. From your description of the frozen madrone fruits you had at the distillery--a combination of raspberry and peach--I think you might have found a non-dairy, organic version of Melba Ice Cream. Love your vids.

  • @frankmacleod2565
    @frankmacleod2565 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Fantastic production. Loved this video. I learned about this one in an edible plants class I took in community college in LA area. It is used all over coastal California and I've never seen anyone doing anything with it except step on it and curse. I was just teaching my young nieces about it over Christmas.

  • @PlayDuhFish
    @PlayDuhFish ปีที่แล้ว +8

    i think this one was really special. super polished and easy to watch. thanks for all the content over the years.

    • @Earthman400
      @Earthman400 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      hummingbirds and monarch butterflies feast ( and pollinate) on the profuse clusters of white flowers. The fruit hangs all winter through summer. The smooth cinnamon colored bark is also attractive.

  • @nuhuhnope7579
    @nuhuhnope7579 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I remember seeing those in my apartment complex as a kid, there were several trees that grew them. They always just fell off the tree and left the slimiest mess on the ground.

  • @TheStepsen
    @TheStepsen ปีที่แล้ว +4

    this fruit looks so amazing. it looks like candy from a fantasy movie/ book. its so adorable i wanna eat it too.

  • @jawn6955
    @jawn6955 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    What an awesome episode. I remember when you'd just done over a hundred fruits. You've really, really taken this to a whole new level and it's wonderful, even though your older stuff was too. Thank you for making this and sharing it with us

    • @WeirdExplorer
      @WeirdExplorer  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks a ton!

    • @Psilomuscimol
      @Psilomuscimol 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I remember when the Buddha hand video was newish.

  • @RAREDRAGONFRUIT
    @RAREDRAGONFRUIT 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    I enjoyed this video very much. This tree is one of the few trees that came with our home. It's a fruit we enjoy.

  • @Tarasyoutube
    @Tarasyoutube ปีที่แล้ว +1

    A cruise line with a circus 🤹‍♂️ sounds like a dream job

  • @secondchance5914
    @secondchance5914 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I like seeing Jared hanging out with his friends, it gives him an authenticity you don’t see with other most TH-camrs

  • @Ruktiet
    @Ruktiet ปีที่แล้ว +20

    I once picked an attractive fruit whilst hiking in portugal, but wasn’t knowledgeable about edible fruit back then and therefore didn’t taste it in fear of it being poisonous. It turned iut to be this one. What a shame, I’m very curious as to what they taste like.
    Thanks for the great video!

    • @tiagobelo4965
      @tiagobelo4965 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      as someone that knows this fruit decently well, it'd likely be a bit unpleasant, its one of those fruits that are *extremely* sensitive to ripeness
      when they are ripe, it's pretty good

    • @Ruktiet
      @Ruktiet ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@tiagobelo4965 thanks for sharing

    • @bertbert2725
      @bertbert2725 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@tiagobelo4965 and the taste differs from tree to tree as well

    • @Psilomuscimol
      @Psilomuscimol 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      I taste most fruit I find. Mostly because where I live there's not many poisonous ones, and the ones that are, I already know not to eat because of grandma.

    • @Psilomuscimol
      @Psilomuscimol 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I really like those berry things that grow on palms and are orange. When unripe they eat you while you eat them lol.

  • @repeatdefender6032
    @repeatdefender6032 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I loved this! It was great to see your circus mates, I was in a tiny circus for a while years ago, it was probably the most fun time of my life. Whole video was great.

  • @rachel4483
    @rachel4483 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    This was a fun episode, and very high quality. Like a legit documentary. Thanks for it and the work you put into it.

  • @jaimepena5455
    @jaimepena5455 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I have been an exotic fruit aficionado for the past 15 years, and after finding your channel so many new fruits and culinary horizons have opened to me. Thank you for your great content. I am thankful there is a person willing to go to such great lengths to speak about all of this different wonderful fruits.

  • @angelarae
    @angelarae ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Bravo Jared! A wonderful indepth video, so interesting, enjoyable and beautifully edited! I loved meeting your wacky circus cohorts as well as your tours of Medronho museums, distilleries and markets! Above all, I live in Seattle and have a 30-40 year old strawberry tree in my backyard and indeed, we moan and groan about the smushed fruits on our shoes and lawn...but NOW we will cherish, maybe even try to ferment the fruits and enjoy this free bounty in our yard. Thank you!

  • @jacobcowan5969
    @jacobcowan5969 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    HYPE! I love a fruit with a whole story behind it!

  • @Deadlyish
    @Deadlyish ปีที่แล้ว +3

    These are sometimes used as landscaping trees here in New Zealand. The fruit is sadly neglected and usually ends up on the footpath, as in Seattle. It's pretty neat to hear about the different ways it can be used - the liqueur sounds interesting, but I think I'd prefer it as a wine.

  • @gonzaloholguera
    @gonzaloholguera ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Here in Madrid it is used as a landscaping tree, and in the biggest park of the city, the Retiro park, in summer you can see whole rows of trees full to the brim with this red delicious looking fruit. Most people know its edible but to be honest, it doesn't taste very good 😁

  • @Medic3000
    @Medic3000 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    the journalistic quality of this episode was really well done! structure felt like a show I'd see on television

  • @Zeerock28
    @Zeerock28 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I love these plants, they grow all over Southern California as a ornamental, no one knows how good they are. I'm going to try and add some of these stops to an upcoming Europe trip in the works! great vid!!

    • @pattheplanter
      @pattheplanter ปีที่แล้ว

      Fire-resistant and hardly need irrigation? California needs to learn more about them. There are _Arbutus_ species native to the USA, I think.

    • @ASMRGRATITUDE
      @ASMRGRATITUDE ปีที่แล้ว

      @@pattheplanter I'm guessing you're not from California. They're absolutely everywhere in Cali. Basically every street corner. They are used ornamentally.
      They are also really common in landscaping in Washington as well.

    • @pattheplanter
      @pattheplanter ปีที่แล้ว

      @@ASMRGRATITUDE But not the better fruiting varieties, obviously.

  • @Gritmonger
    @Gritmonger ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Great episode, loved seeing your friends from the cruise, and a sample of your performance :D

  • @RanyaKarafilly
    @RanyaKarafilly ปีที่แล้ว +3

    In Greece they're called Koumaria, and they do contain coumarin. As a result we're told not to eat too much because they can be toxic/carcinogenic. Not sure what qualifies as too much, or even if this is true... Regardless, love how this one is a whole documentary!

    • @AF-zk9vr
      @AF-zk9vr 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Is not same

  • @afeathereddinosaur
    @afeathereddinosaur ปีที่แล้ว +4

    You hit jackpot with this one! A full museum and production line open for touring? That's awesome

  • @simon4187
    @simon4187 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I used to get these in people's yards while doing tree work just outside Seattle. They're really good

  • @Odo_Fraggins
    @Odo_Fraggins ปีที่แล้ว +3

    This was a great video and a very interesting fruit. As another vegetarian who doesn’t drink, I don’t know how many times I’ve gotten that look from servers, but it pierces my soul.

  • @leostarings2535
    @leostarings2535 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Here in Algeria we call it " Lenj " we never cultivate it, it just grows naturally in the wild! However if you eat too much of it you get dizzy.

  • @Mivychi
    @Mivychi ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Your regular reviews are nice, but the occasional mini documentary is also good. :)

  • @michaelperrone3867
    @michaelperrone3867 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    That crew has some strange but fascinating niche skills; loved the little intro videos for each person.

  • @kyrab7914
    @kyrab7914 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    You did really well making this a flowing and entertaining story. Love that you got friends to try it- it's cool to see their opinion and what they do as well. Samuel and Julio are gems too, just like Marco. And I love getting to see the country, some of the history, and how the ppl there actually eat and live with this plant. Anddd I love the chapel of bones- it's fascinating that you can see that they were stuck in cement.

  • @wpc456cpw
    @wpc456cpw ปีที่แล้ว +3

    The world is a better place because you put this kind of content out there!
    Soooo interesting. Great episode Jared!! Keep it up!

  • @DeezN00tz99
    @DeezN00tz99 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I love all the performers!! You are all awesome

  • @aguijohn1321
    @aguijohn1321 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This is so awesome. When I was in China, that was the first time I learned of this fruit, and I loved it. LOVED IT. I really want to buy some land when I retire (maybe before i retire) and plant a lot of fruit trees. This is one of them along with Mulberry, Lemons, Avocados, etc. This is definitely a video I will save. Thank you!
    Have you ever thought about discussing the various fruits you've tasted and where they can grow in the US? I know a lot of yoru fruits are tropical, so they can only grow in Hawaii, Puerto Rico or Florida, but a lot are more resistant. I don't think anyone (on the gardening channels) really talk about what you can grow in your own area. They only talk about how to grow certain fruits. I'd love this. I want to hit the sweet spot between hardy lemons and pawpaw. That's probably South Georgia.

    • @WeirdExplorer
      @WeirdExplorer  ปีที่แล้ว

      The ones in china are from a different family of fruit! They look similar are very confusingly often called "strawberry tree fruit" or even "Arbutus". The taste is very different though. th-cam.com/video/qIspCfEApp4/w-d-xo.html
      Unfortunately I am not a grower, I think that task is better left for those with green thumbs :)

  • @ShellyS2060
    @ShellyS2060 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    This was a fascinating video. Thanks for sharing. I loved the museum footage and it was great to see you hanging out with fellow performers.

  • @CobraRaptor
    @CobraRaptor ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Thank you, Jared, for teaching us the history of a forgotten fruit and traditions

  • @TechnicolorDojo
    @TechnicolorDojo ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Great episode, thanks for all the work!

  • @NazoCrystal
    @NazoCrystal ปีที่แล้ว +1

    this is the fruit that introduced me to this channel! there used to be a tree next to my old elementary school!

  • @Em-nq5ey
    @Em-nq5ey ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I had to pause the video in shock when you took a sip and LIKED IT

  • @ericschrdr
    @ericschrdr ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Great video, I used to eat these as a child in california - I had no idea they were valued as a food/alcohol, so gritty, reminds me of dental tooth polish. Love your series!

  • @zac752
    @zac752 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    big fan, was watching some.of your old videos as you posted this :)

  • @hernandoprophe2071
    @hernandoprophe2071 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    The icon of Madrid City is "The Bear and the Madroño".
    Madroño fruit is not sold usually in Madrid, but you can find it growing in public parks and private gardens.
    People say you might not eat too many fruits at one time, unless you want to get drunk.

  • @josebustorff7652
    @josebustorff7652 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    Portugal nunca esqueceu o medronho. Desde tempos. Ancestrais, Portugal é o país mais antigo da Europa (900 anos de estória), sempre se saboreou a aguardente de medronho especialmente no sul do país.

    • @tiagotimoteo4004
      @tiagotimoteo4004 หลายเดือนก่อน

      A Dinamarca é mais velha. Aliás a Dinamarca foi o primeiro país a reconhecer o Reino de Portugal, ainda mesmo antes do Papa.

  • @damink_8508
    @damink_8508 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    I'm in new Zealand, I have this tree growing in my back garden. They're everywhere here but never seen anyone eat or collect them

  • @emel60
    @emel60 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Ahhh, they brings back memories. Handing an unripe one to a friend for a priceless facial expression!
    We still have a few trees growing in coastal Croatia

  • @TheMichaelMills
    @TheMichaelMills ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I think this may be my favourite episode on your channel so far. Really like the interactions and the long form nature of the video. I'm sure it was a lot of work for you to put it together, well done!
    I absolutely love the work they are doing over there to make produce with this fruit and market it. Very cool.
    Here in Australia I've seen this plant marketed in the nurseries as an "Irish Strawberry". I'm happy to say it is one of the 59 fruit trees I have planted on my property within the last 12 months.

  • @charlesor1023
    @charlesor1023 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    dude i just wanna say that i love your job, traveling around the world investigating fruits and all related, what an interesting way of living!

  • @arisspyrou1163
    @arisspyrou1163 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Here in North Western Greece it is called Koumaro and it grows wild. It is a beautiful tree. Up until the '60s they use to collect the fruit, ferment them, and produced an alcohol similar to Grapa. I never tried it but apparently it gave strong hangovers and head aches the following morning... For this reason it is not a spirit that got established in this region and to my knowledge it is not produced anymore. Instead they produce Tsipouro which is made from fermented grapes. I love the taste of the fruit. Your description of the taste is very accurate. In a visit to New Zealand a year ago, to my surprise I saw a strawberry tree in the wild. I am curious to find out if it is an indigenous species of New Zealand or if it was taken there a few centuries ago by a European colonist.

  • @Starfish_Duder
    @Starfish_Duder ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I love these videos where we see the history of the fruit and the culture surrounding it. Makes me want to pack my bags and head out to Portugal.

  • @flamah10n
    @flamah10n ปีที่แล้ว +2

    WOW I LOVED TO SEE THE CREW! AMAZING!!!!

  • @anne-droid7739
    @anne-droid7739 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    How lovely to get to meet your fellow performers! Thank you! Edit: I like them all. You are a lucky man, and you deserve it. Second edit: ar BYOO tus. Sorry, I'm a biologist, and just couldn't resist.

  • @quas-r
    @quas-r ปีที่แล้ว +5

    My girlfriend and I have come across a street vendor in Turkey who sold these under the name of "dağ çileği" or "mountain strawberries" in English about a week ago. Since she loves regular strawberries, we bought some and tried them. I thought to myself, "I wonder if Weird Explorer has a video about this fruit" but never looked. It feels so strange that you uploaded this a week after that happened lol. Love your channel!

    • @pattheplanter
      @pattheplanter ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Did they taste good and how big were they? I expect there is a lot of variation considering the huge area it is native to.

    • @quas-r
      @quas-r ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@pattheplanter The ones we tasted were at max the size of a thumb nail and they had a texture similar to a soft apricot. A little gritty but not crunchy. Most of them had very mild flavor but the riper ones strangely had a brief but not weak taste of figs. Especially at the spots which were the softest and the ripest. They did not at all taste anything like strawberries :D

    • @pattheplanter
      @pattheplanter ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@quas-r Thanks. The ones I had in Spain were about two fingers width, like the Portuguese ones in this video. I can't describe the taste, unlike anything else I have had.

  • @happybee7725
    @happybee7725 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    Those fruit creme biscuits he mentioned… in the UK we call those “Jammy Dodgers”

  • @jrcorsey
    @jrcorsey ปีที่แล้ว +2

    This was epic! So many interesting angles and tastings. Thanks for pouring your vacation time into this!

  • @TrustworthyFella
    @TrustworthyFella ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This is some of your best content to date! I love the in-depth-ness, the length, the cuts and the variety of people that appeared :)
    I hope you will do a whole series exactly like this!

  • @nanmam7771
    @nanmam7771 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    This was a particularly delightful video!

  • @starlightela
    @starlightela ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Ohhh! I'm going to Portugal in the Fall, I'm going to have to try to hunt this down!!

  • @mgs721
    @mgs721 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I think of all your weirdo friends, Nina is the weirdo-est; based entirely on her giant light bulb outfit. Looks like a fun crew. And a good drink. 👍

  • @Barberserk
    @Barberserk 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    I am happy you made a new video about my favorite winter wild fruit.

  • @atlasaltera
    @atlasaltera ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I'm so happy you featured the madroño!!! I have longed to try the liquor distilled from its fruit, as I feature it in the lore of my worldbuilding project. I first came the madroño tree when reading about the PNW's iconic arbutus species, Arbutus menziesii--do you know if the fruit of this species is edible btw?

    • @WeirdExplorer
      @WeirdExplorer  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks! Yes, I believe it is edible. I reviewed that one a while back. th-cam.com/video/CevIrcNu8-Q/w-d-xo.html

    • @atlasaltera
      @atlasaltera ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@WeirdExplorer ah fantastic. sorry, i'm embarrassed that I didn't try looking it up with your videos first.

  • @Synochra
    @Synochra ปีที่แล้ว +1

    thank you so much for doing this channel, I loooooove your style, your delivery, all of it

  • @DylanUPSB
    @DylanUPSB ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Loved this longer episode with so much neat stuff, thanks!