Feast Food Fact: Peaches

Despite their wonderfully sweet and juicy taste, which might lead you to believe they're high in sugar and calories, peaches are actually quite light. A medium-sized peach contains only about 60 calories. This makes them an excellent choice for a healthy snack or a light dessert, especially when you're looking for something satisfying and guilt free. Adding to their allure is their linguistic journey. The word "peach" traces its roots back to the Latin phrase "malum persicum," which literally translates to "Persian fruit" or "Persian apple." This is because, while peaches are originally native to China, they were introduced to Europe via Persia. The ancient Greeks encountered the fruit through the Persians and named it Persikon malon, meaning "Persian apple." This name then evolved through Latin (as persica) and Old French (pesche) before finally arriving in English as "peach" in the 14th century.