also: くいごろ
noun
ready to eat; at its best for eating; in season
Describes food, especially fruit, vegetables, or seafood, that is at the peak of ripeness or freshness for consumption. Often used in culinary contexts.
See also: 食べ頃 (たべごろ)
このメロンは食べ頃だ。
This melon is ready to eat.
魚は今が食べ頃です。
The fish is at its best right now.
旬 refers to the season when a food is at its peak in terms of flavor and availability, while 食べ頃 focuses on the optimal ripeness or readiness for eating, which may not always align with the natural season.
Compound of 食べ (tabe, 'eating', from 食べる) + 頃 (koro, 'time, about'). The reading たべごろ is standard; the variant くいごろ uses the older nominal form 食い (kui, 'eating') and is now rare.