Difference Between Peach and Apricot

Members of the prunus family, apricot and peach, are two fruits that are often confused between one another. While the fruits do resemble each other to a certain extent, there are many differences that set them apart which can help in identifying the two from one another.  

What is Peach?

Peach is a deciduous tree native to North-West China. Peach, also known as Prunus persica, is a juicy edible fruit that belongs to the genus prunus in the family Rosaceae. The peach tree grows to 4-10 m with lanceolate leaves and its flowers are produced in early spring before the leaves. The peach fruit has an aromatic yellow or white flesh with a velvety skin on the outside with a large oval shaped red brown seed in the middle. The flesh can be delicate, bruised or firm depending upon the cultivars. Peaches can be either clingstones or freestones depending upon the manner in which the flesh of the fruit is attached to the seed.

White fleshed peaches are known to be very sweet with very little acidity, whereas yellow skinned peaches feature an acidic tang along with its sweetness. Peaches are rich in Vitamin C and Potassium while also containing a significant amount of sugars, protein and fibre. Peach seeds are known to contain cyanogenic glycosides, as well as amygdalinand are known to be capable of decomposing into hydrogen cyanide gas and a sugar molecule.

China is known to be the world’s largest producer of peaches.

 Source: Wikipedia, April 2014

What is Apricot?

An apricot is the fruit that is usually derived from the tree species Prunus armeniaca. However, fruits that are gained from species Prunus mandshurica, Prunus brigantina,  Prunus mume, and Prunus sibirica are also known as apricots. The Prunus armeniaca is a small tree that grows about 8-12 m tall with ovate leaves. Apricot flowers are whitish pink in colour and flower before the leaves in early spring.

The apricot fruit is a drupe fruit with a soft skin of which the flesh is firm and not very juicy and its colour ranges from yellow to orange with a reddish tinge on the sides most exposed to the sun. The flesh is tart and sweet and encloses a small smooth stone with three ridges running down the side. The apricot is best grown in the continental climate region with cold winter while the dry climate is known to be good for the maturation of the fruits.

Cyanogenic glycosides and Laetrile known to be a purported alternative treatment for cancer are extracted from apricot seeds while, during the 17th century England, apricot oil was used against swellings, tumours, and ulcers. Apricots are also dried and preserved and thus dried apricots are considered a traditional dried fruit.

 Source: Wikipedia, April 2014

What is the difference between Apricot and Peach?

• The apricot grows in tree species Prunus armeniaca while fruits that are gained from species Prunus mandshurica, Prunus brigantina,  Prunus mume, and Prunus sibirica are also known as apricots. Peach is grown on Prunus persicais.
• An apricot is smaller than a peach and is sweeter.
• An apricot has a smooth skin. The peach has a velvety skin.
• The peach stone is considered to be poisonous. The apricot seed is used for medicinal purposes.
• Dried apricot is considered to be a traditional dried fruit. Peach is not usually dried.

While both peach and apricot derive from the same prunus family, it is evident that they are very different fruits with different characteristics, which set them apart.