Shaftoli

Shaftoli is the name used in several South Asian languages for the peach (Prunus persica). The peach is a fleshy stone fruit in the Rosaceae family, cultivated worldwide for its sweet, aromatic flesh and fuzzy skin. It is believed to have originated in northwest China and spread westward through trade.

Botanical description: The peach tree is deciduous and typically grows 4–7 meters tall, with oval, finely serrated leaves and pink or white flowers. The fruit has a fuzzy skin, coats of yellow to orange flesh (often with a red blush), and a central hard stone (pit).

Varieties: Peaches are categorized as freestone or clingstone, depending on whether the pit separates easily from the flesh. They can be white- or yellow-fleshed, and cultivars vary in sweetness, aroma, and juiciness.

Cultivation: Peaches require a temperate climate with a winter chilling period. They prefer well-drained loam or sandy-loam soils and full sun. Orchard management includes pruning, thinning, irrigation, and disease and pest control. Common problems include brown rot, peach leaf curl, and codling moth.

Uses and nutrition: Fresh shaftoli are eaten raw and used in desserts, jams, juices, and baking. Dried peaches are common snacks. A 100-gram serving provides about 39 kilocalories, with modest amounts of vitamin A and vitamin C and dietary fiber.

Commercial and cultural context: Shaftoli is widely grown in China, the United States, Spain, Turkey, and in South Asia, including India and Pakistan. It is important in fresh markets and processing, and is valued as an ornamental tree in suitable landscapes.