Medlar fruit taste test
Back in early summer I blogged about our Medlar tree, though we still weren't 100% sure about its identification.
It's bright red now (see picture above) - the leaves turn a beautiful colour, and there's quite a lot of fruit left on it.
Anyway, according to Wikipedia, "Medlar fruit are very hard and acidic. They become edible after being softened ("bletted") by frost, or naturally in storage given sufficient time. Once softening begins, the skin rapidly takes a wrinkled texture and turns dark brown, and the inside reduces to a consistency and flavour reminiscent of apple sauce."
We've certainly had frost now and we tasted the fruit again a few days ago and it is completely different! A really unusual taste, that's hard to define. But yes, not unlike apple sauce. It's a bit like eating sweets.
I think that confirms its identity.
posted by Gill at
8:29 AM
7 Comments:
Medlars are weird fruits. How are you supposed to use them?
I was in Uzbekistan a few years ago and encountered plenty of quince trees complete with ripe fruits.
I seem to think the Victorians used to eat them a lot. I've seen some recipes but I can't remember where now. An old Mrs Beeton, maybe. Will have a look. Have you ever tasted medlar fruits? They are weird, you're right!
Quince! We've got that here, too. I planted it years ago and it has thrived, come what may.
Another interesting fruit with a very acquired taste is the Artocarpus heterophyllus, sometimes called the jackfruit. Have you ever tried it?
No. What's that like?
Oh, I just looked it up. Wow, I'd like to try one!
A similar fruit is the Durian.
Never heard of that one either ;-)
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