Dried apricots are very successful at retaining and preserving their sweet flavor. In Latin apricot means "precocious," named because it ripens earlier in the season than most other fruits. Most apricots' fate is to be dried or otherwise processed. Despite going through the drying process apricots still maintain their rich orange to golden color and have a chewy texture.
Seasons/Availability
Dried apricots are available year-round
Nutritional Value
Dried apricots are fat free, very low in sodium, cholesterol free, high in vitamin A and are a good source of potassium. One half cup of dried apricots has about 40 calories, 1 gram of protein and 9 carbohydrates.
A modern process using sulphur dioxide is the most frequently used method in preparing dried apricots. This process bleaches the fruit before it is dried, making it necessary to recolor the fruit with a dye. Naturally dried in the sun, apricots have a much finer flavor. Fortunately, a number of sources use the sun-drying process including South Australia and Turkey. Apricot leather is another product using dried apricot flesh in the form of thin sheets which has a highly concentrated flavor. Many apricot varieties and species exist, differing in flavor, color, and size. In the United States today 95% of apricots are grown in the California San Joaquin Valley.
