I ran across this discussion at California Gardening:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/calif/msg010237255479.html?7

And here's my entry, what else could it be?

Does a favorite tree be devoid of edible fruits? I would require first and foremost edible fruits... All the rest goes to firewood or lumber. I am just pulling your leg... Of course I love the native California Laurel trees.

Among the trees that bear edible fruits, I would vote citrus (specifically Clementine Nules, Golden Nugget, Willowleaf mandarins) as my favorite. Taste and quality of fruits are excellent in our area, the dense leaves are magnificent, the fragrance of the leaves, the blooms are too enchanting and smells like paradise everytime there are blooms, the tree form is excellent and generally a lazy man no pruning required, and in case you prune the twigs are also excellent for smoked barbecue, and most of all it is evergreen ... You will have a hard time convincing me that there are other edible trees that can grow very well here to beat this favorite one.