This large-fruited medlar is from the Piedmont area of Italy where it is preferred above all others. Brought to the U.S. by Hill Craddock.
Although little known in the U.S., medlars have been grown in Europe for thousands of years. The unusual 1 inch diameter round fruits are collected in the fall, after the first frosts. When picked, the fruits are much too hard to eat immediately. If allowed to ripen for a few weeks in a cool lighted place they undergo a process called ‘bletting’ and become soft, spicy and very rich. Enjoy the cinnamon-apple sauce flavor scooped out with a spoon.
