Veget ab l e s , L egu m e s , M u s h ro o m s an d Fr u it
Cordials and Goldwasser
Frézier during his mission in Chile and Peru. One especially valued variety is the Kashubian strawberry, which is cultivated in the north of Poland and bears fruit late. Its fruits are rather small but very sweet and have the most beautiful smell. Due to their flavour, appearance and nutritional values, strawberries are added to cakes, homemade juices and desserts that are the most popular culinary treats in June in Poland. Later, they are used in the production of jams, marmalades and juices that can be eaten and drunk in autumn and winter to invoke the taste of summer. · Another red fruit whose season starts in June are raspberries. They were first cultivated in Middle Ages by monks in monastery gardens. In traditional folk medicine, raspberry juice was recommended for problems with digestion, colds and to increase one’s general well-being. Due to their beautiful colour and irresistible aroma, they are associated with love and eroticism. In Polish poetry both the fruit and landscapes full of raspberry bushes often accompany lovers. A girl’s beauty and the sweetness of the woman’s lips are often compared to raspberries. Even the plant’s thorns do not stop anyone from picking them and so raspberries are the symbol of something secret and forbidden, yet very tempting. One of the poets who often referred to raspberries in his works was Bolesław Leśmian (1877–1937). In cooking, raspberries are used to make jams, marmalades and juices. They enhance the taste of pastries, cakes and cold desserts. Yeast rolls with raspberries and luxurious cheesecake served with raspberry mousse are perfect examples of the long-remembered taste of the Polish summer. They are also an excellent accompaniment for savoury dishes. Raspberry sauce may be used as an alternative to wine-based sauces. It is also worth noting that for many years Poland has been among the top raspberry and strawberry producers. · Other popular summer delicacies include blackberries, cherries (both sweet and sour), blackcurrants, gooseberries and blueberries. All of these types of fruit can be used in cooking just like strawberries, whereas one of the ways of preserving plums or pears is to put them in jars in a sweet and sour vinegarbased marinade.
•
79