Orient Express is an Asian-type eggplant known for its slender, glossy black fruit and mild, tender flesh, valued for dependable production across a range of growing temperatures.
Variety details
Distinguishing Traits
Orient Express bears dark, slender Asian-type eggplants with glossy black skin. Fruits typically run 8 to 10 inches long and 1 to 3 inches in diameter, with thin skin covering tender, mild-flavored flesh. The plant is notably tolerant of both heat and cold, and its delicate flesh cooks down quickly once prepared.
Uses
The tender, mild flesh of Orient Express cooks quickly, making it well suited to skillet cooking. It also holds up well in stews or when roasted.
Performance
Orient Express matures quickly and begins bearing early, setting fruit across a wide range of cooler temperatures that helps extend the harvest season on both ends. It continues to set fruit even when the plant is under stress or weather turns cool, a resilience that supports consistently high yields. This dependability under variable conditions has led it to be regarded as one of the most reliable Asian eggplant varieties.
Sources
7 sourcesBotanical Lineage
Taxonomic RankGeneral identification, edible-use, and cultivation information only — not medical or safety advice. It may be incomplete or wrong; do not eat or use a plant medicinally, or make growing decisions, based only on this page.