I received some water eggplants cultivated on the open-field. Water eggplants have thin skin and soft flesh, so they are easily consumed by simply tearing them apart with your hands after removing the stem. True to their name, they are rich in moisture, and when squeezed tightly, water drips out. They have a refreshing juiciness with a hint of sweetness. Water eggplants have been cultivated in the Senshu region since the early Edo period. However, due to their thin skin and unsuitability for transportation, as well as the browning of the skin when pickled, they were mainly consumed locally for a long time. Subsequently, through selective breeding, a variety with vibrant skin color emerged, and since the opening of Kansai International Airport in 1994, it has gained nationwide attention as a specialty product of Osaka.

 露路物の水茄子を頂きました。水茄子は皮が薄く果肉が柔らかいので、ヘタを切り落としたら手で裂くだけで簡単に食べられます。その名の通り、ぎゅっと絞ると水がしたたり落ちるほど水分が多く、ほんのりと甘味のあるみずみずしさが特徴です。泉州地域では江戸時代初期から水なすが栽培されてきましたが、皮が薄く輸送に向かず、また漬物にすると皮の色が茶色くくすむため、長らく地元を中心に消費されてきました。その後、品種改良が進み、皮の色が鮮やかな品種が登場したことから、1994年の関西国際空港の開港をきっかけに大阪の特産品として全国的に注目を集めるようになりました。