Persica

In his home in northwest China, these were known as the fruits of immortality. Their skin was like velvet, and their flesh held the sweetness of a summer sunset. Li Wei was bound for the great markets of the West, following a path that would one day be called the Silk Road.

Months later, the air grew cooler as the caravan descended into the lush valleys of the Iranian plateau. In the gardens of a Persian satrap, Li Wei unrolled the moss. The local gardeners stared in wonder at the "Persian Apple," as they began to call it. They marveled at its delicate pink blossoms and the way it thrived in their sun-drenched soil. Persica

The following story explores this journey through the lens of a traveler on the Silk Road. The Golden Apple of the West In his home in northwest China, these were