Pears

How cool! I love how you show the different variety of pears. Next time I go to the market I'll be a little more pear-wise.

asian pears are amazingly good in salads.

Wow, your site is SOOOO interesting! You are my new favorite lunch time companion!!!!

I had my first asian pear last year from our fruit CSA and it was one of the best fruits I had ever eaten! I wish we could find them in the stores around here.

Informative and artistic!
Thank you for giving us the 411 in such an easy package!
Keep up the fine work!

Have any pear pie recipes?

I have about 6 small very ripe pears in my fridge that i don't want to waste. anyone have any cooking or baking ideas?

I was thinking that the Rocha variety was portuguese....

One of my favorite uses for pears is as a topping on Cheesecake. I slice the pears finely, sautee in butter and finely ground black pepper (yes, it tastes good!) until they caramelize very slightly, add simple syrup and cornstarch and bring to a boil. The amount of sugar and starch depends on the pear and the application. For a cheesecake topping that sets, you can use gelatin too, or for a sauce, use less corn starch. At the last moment, salt to taste (salt enhances the flavor -- a little touch makes it taste more 'pear-y').

This dessert topping can be used for anything, but cheesecake is my favorite. It works best with Bartletts or Anjou -- I've never tried it with Asians (those don't last anywhere near long enough in my house!).

Best of luck,
Burr

I have a pear tree and am curious to know what type of pear this is. All I know is that it is some sort of Asian pear. They are super juicy kinda sweet and a little gritty/sandy as you get closer to the core. They are huge, each one weighs a pound.

http://s73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/rachel1919/ebay/?action=view&curre...jpg
http://s73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/rachel1919/ebay/?action=view&curre...jpg

Without question, the very best pears are those delivered by "Harry and David". Succulent, delicate and oh, so very delicious

Hey, My grandfather had a pear tree in his yard in southwest Louisiana in the 60's and 70's and he made the best pear preserves from those pears. I am wondering what kind of pear this might have been. I remember them being more round than truly pear shaped, and yellowish green, and kind of rough looking - not beautiful to look at. I remember being told they were really only good for cooking and not eating raw. Does anybody have any idea what kind of pear this may have been. I'd like to plant my own tree if I can find out the type. Thanks,

Shannon

Shannon, That sounds just like the pears that I am trying to figure out the name of. I live in Northern Florida. My pics are 2 up from your comment. All I know is that I have a few variations of these pears each is slightly different but they are all Asian pears. If you do a search for Asian pear trees many will show up. They are round and have the texture more like an apple than a pear. They are so crunchy that they are better off used for pies though mine are sweet enough to eat as long as they are chilled and peeled.

Rachel1919,

After much research I have decided that my grandfather's pear tree probably was a Kieffer Pear tree. I emailed some pear growers from Louisiana and also found an article from LSU about pears that grow in Louisiana. From that I narrowed it down to three possibilities - Kieffer, Pineapple, or Orient. One of the growers I wrote told me that the Kieffer was the most common pear tree planted in the south. My husband remembers his grandfather having a pear tree in southern Georgia that sounds exactly the same. So my best guess is Kieffer. Maybe that is what yours are too. I am in SC now, but I am planning on ordering a Kieffer for my yard. Thanks for responding,

Shannon

The Harry and David's pears are, I agree, the most delicious and so juicy that they're best eaten over the kitchen sink so all the juice can just drip off your chin, like eating tree ripened mangoes in peak season. They're marketed under a different name, I think Royal Riviera or something like that, but are actually just superb Comice pears. I usually get some for the Holidays and go wild :D

Hawaii girl

Looks to me like "korian Giant" also known as Olympic
I grow these. very good taste

I have a large tree with what looks and tastes like pears. The pears are extremely small ( about an inch in diameter), sweet and resemble Bosc in color. I do not see any pictures that resemble them in size but they are the color of the Bosc pear and same shape. I used the "shaking" method to harvest and they taste so sweet. Have you heard of this variety and can you make preserves with them. I took one to the local co-op but they were no help so any information would help :)

The small sweet pears are probably Seckle pears (also called "sugar pears" because of their sweetness). If you prune the tree the pears might grow a bit bigger, but they are typically pretty small.

Okay so I just ate a Chinese pear for the first time and immediately there was a familiar taste...I was trying to figure out what it was and finally I realized it tastes like egg-nog! Is there something used in egg-nog that comes from this pear? I'm really curious to know.

In regards to Rachel 1919 photos they look like one of my varieties which are called the Cajun Pineapple Pear but bears a striking resemblance to Orient Pear. I have their pictures on my pear bulletin Board. Scroll all the way down to the end of the page to see the Cajun Pineapple.
T. J. Cal

http://www.tandeecal.com/page10.htm