Bosc Pear

Fruit Maven — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:35:38 +0000

If you have an inexplicable affinity for bjork, giraffes and alpacas, then this is the fruit for you!

APPEARANCE 4 out of 5 stars

Rusty dusty, brown mottled skin with a long neck and whimsical pear shape, pale tan flesh

AROMA 3 out of 5 stars

Neutral to no smell

TEXTURE 3.5 out of 5 stars

Fine grained, luscious, smooth bite, melting flesh, few seeds, unnoticeable core so you can eat almost every little bit of this pear – skin is slightly thick and noticeably dry in the mouth

TASTE 4.5 out of 5 stars

Creamy and melting, mellow pear flavor – like cinnamon pear ice cream

OVERALL 3.75 out of 5 stars

First of all, let me just confess that I am a pushover for whimsy and this pear just knocks me right down. I mean look at it. The neck is so long that it looks to be stretching out in a giraffe pose. Plus the skin is dry and papery which is in complete contrast to the melty, creamy flesh inside. The whole thing is just lovely. Plus, it looks so much like autumn that I just can’t stand it. You should bring a huge plate of these sliced up for Thanksgiving (if you celebrate that). What am I bringing you ask? Um, not what I just recommended – no. I’m bringing these instead (because I’m cool like that.)

FRUIT

Pear

VARIETY

Bosc

PEAK

Fall-Winter

ORIGIN

Belgium or France

GROWN

Unknown

PURCHASED

Grocery Store

NOTES

Also called Beurre Bosc Pear and Kaiser Pear. The Bosc Pear is known as the “aristocrat of pears“. Everything I read indicates this is generally a firm fleshed variety but all three I had this week were lovely and soft, so once again I am puzzled by the fruit world. Either way, I recommend you try it. They are also great for baking, braising and sauteeing as they hold their shape well.

RECIPES

Sauteed Bosc Pears with Toasted Walnuts and Balsamic Reduction
Fragrant Cinnamon Pork and Pears Poached in Red Wine

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