The first Georgia peaches of the year show up at roadside stands and farmers markets in late spring, and the season runs through the summer as different varieties ripen. A peach eaten at its peak, warm from the counter with juice running down your wrist, is one of the simplest pleasures the state has to offer. It is also a perfect subject for mindful eating.
A fruit with a long journey
Peaches are native to China, where they have been cultivated for thousands of years and appear in ancient art and legend as a symbol of long life. They traveled west along trade routes, were grown by the Romans and reached the Americas with Spanish and other European settlers. Georgia’s climate suited them well, and the state’s identification with the fruit goes back well over a century, long enough for it to end up on license plates and in the nickname of the state itself.
Choosing a good one
A peach does not get sweeter after it is picked, though it does get softer and juicier. Look for fruit that:
- Smells like a peach when you hold it near your nose
- Gives slightly along the seam when pressed gently with a thumb
- Has a warm yellow or cream background color; the red blush is about the variety and sun, not ripeness
- Shows no green near the stem
A firm peach will soften on the counter in a day or two. Once it is ripe, the refrigerator will hold it for a few days, but let it come back to room temperature before eating. Cold mutes the flavor.
Eating one peach slowly
Mindful eating simply means paying full attention to the food in front of you. A peach is an ideal place to practice because it engages every sense.
Hold the fruit and notice its weight and the fuzz on your fingertips. Smell it. Take one bite and let it sit in your mouth before chewing, noticing sweetness, acidity and the texture of the flesh. Chew slowly. Notice the juice, the moment the taste fades and the urge to take the next bite. Then take it, just as slowly.
One peach eaten this way takes a few minutes and can feel like a small break from the rush of a working day. Many people find it leaves them calmer than a snack grabbed at a desk, which is reason enough to try it.
Keeping it simple in the kitchen
Peak-season peaches need very little help. Slice them over plain yogurt at breakfast, grill halves briefly and serve with a spoonful of honey, or drop a few slices into a pitcher of water or iced tea. Cobbler and pie have their place, but a perfect peach eaten standing over the sink needs no recipe at all.
The season will be over sooner than you expect. Buy a few at a time, eat them at their best and let each one be a reason to pause.