Summer's last bites: What's in season now in Suzhou

With sanfu, the hottest period of summer, now behind us and the solar term of End of Heat arriving, Suzhou is welcoming a number of seasonal delicacies.

Yangcheng Lake Prawn

Yangcheng Lake prawns hit the market earlier this month and will be in season through October. The prawns are actually giant river prawns and have been bred for five years. This year's prawns are larger than usual, with most weighing around 100 grams and selling for 80 yuan per 500 grams. Some reach 150 grams and measure more than 20 centimeters in length.

Horse-eye Jujube

Horse-eye jujubes, a local specialty on Sanshan Island, recently went on sale. The fruit has been grown on the island in Dongshan Town for centuries. There are more than 600 jujube trees over 100 years old. Nourished by the island's fertile soil and clean water, the jujubes have thin skins, small pits and thick flesh, with a crisp, juicy and sweet taste.

Gorgon Fruit

Gorgon fruit, hailed as the foremost of Suzhou's famed "Eight Aquatic Treasures," has entered its prime season, which will last through mid-September. Thanks to moderate temperatures and ample sunlight, the seeds are extremely plump and tender around this time each year.

Water Caltrop

The local water caltrops have been on the market since late July, but their peak harvest season will not arrive till September. Another member of Suzhou's "Eight Aquatic Treasures," the fruit is crisp, sweet and juicy when eaten raw, while cooking gives it a soft, chewy texture.

Fig

The orchards on Taihu Lake's Xishan Island are filled with the delicate fragrance of figs. The fruit is high in sugar and has soft, delicate flesh that melts in the mouth, offering a honey-like sweetness.

Moreover, within a month, Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs will be available. At present, most crabs are nearing the end of their fourth molting cycle and have yet to fully mature.