Many are familiar with North Carolina's bright red state bird, the cardinal, but did you know that the state also has assigned fruits, vegetables and more?
NCpedia.org, a source for information on the Tar Heel State overseen by the North Carolina Government and Heritage Library, compiled extensive information on the state's symbols, providing information on each on ncpedia.org/symbols.
Some are more well-known than others, including the cardinal and the official state carnivorous plant, the Venus flytrap, which is featured on some special N.C. license plates. Here's what to know about the Tar Heel State's official fruits and vegetables, plus recipes that utilize them and more info.
What is North Carolina's state fruit?
N.C.'s official state fruit is the scuppernong grape, a pale-colored
variety of muscadine grapes. Southern Living describes the skin as tough and a little sour, while the flesh of the grape is juicy and plump. Southern Living also provided a guide on how to eat scuppernongs, including fresh and frozen (just watch out for the large seeds!)
Scuppernongs are also turned into wine, described by Southern Living as "musky and wild." It can be found at many Southeastern wineries, usually fermented into a sweet wine rather than a drier style. Writers provided the following cocktail recipe for a "Mississippi Bourbon Punch" which utilizes muscadine grapes:
- 2 bottles dry muscadine wine, chilled
- 1 bottle grenadine, chilled
- 1 ½ cups chilled bourbon
- 1 cup chilled fresh orange juice
- 1 cup chilled cranberry juice
- ⅓ cup fresh lime juice
- 8 cups ice cubes
- 1 can lemon-lime soft drink, chilled
- 1 cup chilled club soda
- Orange slices, muscadine and scuppernong grape halves (for garnish)
To assemble the punch, add the muscadine wine, grenadine, bourbon, orange juice, cranberry juice and lime juice into a punch bowl. Stir in ice cubes, lemon-lime soft drink and club soda before garnishing with orange slices and muscadine/scuppernong halves.
What is North Carolina's state berry?
As an added fun fact, apart from its official state fruit, N.C. also has two state berries, the strawberry and blueberry.
What is North Carolina's state vegetable?
N.C.'s state vegetable is a favorite of Southern pie-lovers everywhere: the sweet potato. In true Tar Heel State fashion, here's a sweet potato pie recipe from culinary pro Martha Stewart's daughter, Alexis:
- 4 medium sweet potatoes
- 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups half-and-half
- 4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 Prebaked pie crust
- Whipped cream, for serving (optional)
Preheat oven; roast sweet potatoes: Preheat oven to 400°F. Pierce potatoes several times with the tines of a fork and place on a baking sheet. Roast until tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, about 1 hour. Set aside to cool slightly.
Peel and process flesh in food processor: When cool enough to handle, peel, discarding skins, place flesh (2 1/2 cups) in the bowl of a food processor, and process until smooth (or place flesh in a medium bowl and mash well). Set aside to cool completely.
Combine eggs, sugar, zest, and spices; add half and half: In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, lemon zest, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and salt until well combined. Whisk in half-and-half.
Mix egg mixture into cooled sweet potatoes; add melted butter and pour into crust: Add egg mixture to cooled sweet potatoes, and whisk until thoroughly combined. Whisk in melted butter. Pour into baked crust.
Bake and cool: Bake until filling is set and the tip of a knife comes out clean when inserted into the center, 50 to 60 minutes. Cool completely before slicing. Serve topped with whipped cream, if desired.
What is the North Carolina motto?
Esse Quam Videri, a latin phrase meaning "to be rather than to seem," was adopted as the state's official motto in 1893. NCpedia adds that at the time, N.C. was one of the few states without a motto, and the only state among the original 13 without one.
What are NC's official state colors?
NCpedia states that, until the early 1940s, the colors of the University of North Carolina - blue and white - were generally accepted as the state's unofficial colors. In 1945, the State Colors bill was introduced, designating the shades of red and blue appearing on the State flag as the official state colors.
The bill also mentioned that, at the time, North Carolina was "one of only a few states that has not adopted official state colors," and added, "there is widespread sentiment among the school children of the State and its citizens generally looking to the adoption of suitable and appropriate colors as official colors for the State."
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Can you name NC's state fruit, vegetable? See them here plus recipes, more
