Origin and history
The apricot tree, botanical name Prunus armeniaca, belongs to the large Rosaceae family. Native to China, where it was already cultivated more than 4,000 years ago, it then spread to Armenia and then the Mediterranean via trade routes. Its fleshy fruit, with its soft, sweet flesh, quickly became a symbol of vitality and abundance in many cultures. Today, apricots are widely appreciated for both their flavor and their nutritional properties.