Asian Pears a.k.a. Apple Pears — Taking America By Storm

Asian pears — also known as apple pears, sand pears and/or nashi have oft-been described as the hottest new fruit since kiwi! The reason for its appeal is simple — the wholesome Asian fruit is crispy, crunchy, juicy and sweet. They also maintain their crisp texture and unique flavors for several months w/ proper refrigeration.

Unbeknownst to many, the Asian Pear was introduced to the United States during the Gold Rush Era — Chinese miners planted them in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas and the rest is history.

Similar with other fruits, the Asian pear come in several varieties and are normally round in shape. Their color ranges from yellow -to- green and to various shades of golden brown. Many serve the Asian pear in the traditional apple way — slicing it into wedges.
 

Consumers usually slice the fruit into wedges as opposed to biting into it (like an apple)
because of its crisp & hard texture.

When sliced, the inner-workings of the fruit reveal a white flesh that's similar to an apple w/ refreshing pear flavor. Unlike traditional European pears, Asian pears are round, firm to the touch when ripe, and ready to eat right after harvest. Asian pears reach prime quality when they ripen on the tree, quite similar to apples and peaches.

One of the strong selling-points is its long storage life — they will typically store for 10 -to- 14 days at room temperature and even 3 -to- 4 weeks in the refrigerator; and up to 3 months in a commercial cold-storage facility.

Asian pears are especially prized by Chinese herbalists as a way to eliminate dark circles under the eyes. They are widely used by traditional Chinese medicine to detoxify — alleviate coughs by dissolve mucus and lubricating sore throats, quench thirst, relieve restlessness, promote urination, regenerate body fluids, treat constipation, heal skin lesions and promote overall skin health.

Crispy Asian pears are an attractive appetizer and can be served w/ other fresh fruits, salad bowls and cheeses. They can be consumed by its lonesome or served in fruit salads, dipped in various apple sauce-like puddings and even mixed into stir-fry dishes — the combination is boundless.

In the past, the primary consumer of Asian pears has been the apple-eating & pear-loving community but similar to kiwi and tofu; the masses from Western Civilization are finally catching on— Kong from theKONGBLOG