In fall, the pear stands entirely unjustified in the shadow of the all-pervasive apple. We would like to change things.
They are called “good Luise”, Alexander, Lucas, “Clapps Darling” or Conference. The best known and most popular varieties are the bottle-shaped Abate Fetel and roundish Williams Christ. The flavour of the fruits ranges from aromatic sweet to slightly sour and slightly spicy. Since the fruit is also cultivated in Italy, Spain and France as well as in the US, Chile or South Africa, the pear is available during other seasons. In central Europe the harvest time begins in the early autumn.
What are the good and healthy characters of the pear?
It is easy to digest and gentle on the stomach because of its low fruit acids. Whoever is sensitive to fruit acids should pick pears instead of apples. The pear is rich in vitamin C and folic acid. The latter one is important for the blood formation and for the endorphin production, such as Serotonin. Besides, it contains important minerals such as iron, magnesium and zinc as well as iodine, potassium, copper and phosphate. Due to its high potassium content pears have a dehydrating effect, which helps with kidney and bladder complaints. As with most fruits the vitamins and minerals are hidden just underneath the skin, therefore avoid peeling them.
What to consider when buying and storing?
Eat the ripe pears within one or two days and store them in the fridge. Unripe fruits may remain at room temperature to keep up the ripening process. By the way: As with other fruits, don’t store pears next to apples. The ethylene contained in apples accelerates the ripening and thus the rotting process. A pear is ready to be eaten when there remains a slight bulb from the finger pressure. Besides, the skin shows the state of ripeness: The brighter, the riper it is.
How should you cut a pear?
To cut pears into slices you just put the fruit with the stem upwards on a board and cut with a large kitchen knife slice by slice around the core. For quartering and to remove the core first cut it lengthwise, then in quarters. Then remove the stem and the core.
How to prepare it.
or cooking use small not quite ripe fruits to insure they keep their shape even when heated, for example, as needed for the most common dessert “Pear Helena”. Sweet pears go well in combination with spicy cheese (e.g. Gorgonzola) and savoury vegetables such as fennel or red cabbage or with game dishes, which offers a very special taste experience. Pears are also delicious when topping cakes or tarts – and to conclude an extraordinary meal you can even enjoy them in “liquid” form of a fruit brandy.
Did you know that …
… there are more than 2.500 types of pears?
… pears contain approx. 83 percent of water?
… you differ between dessert fruits, cooking pears and cider pears?
… approximately 40 percent of the worldwide pear harvest comes from China?
… the most common ballad by Theodor Fontane characterises a pear tree?
