John Myers
Medlars are the fruits of the medlar tree. In the Middle Ages, trees and fruit were widespread in this country, today the medlar is no longer important as a fruit tree. It occurs almost exclusively as wild growth. However, the related fruits of the so-called Japanese loquat have been commercially available for several years. They are grown in southern Europe or parts of Asia.
When ripe, the fruits have a brownish to orange skin and are about the size of plums. They taste sweet and at the same time have a subtle acidity. Its fresh aroma is reminiscent of apricot and peach. However, between harvest and consumption, the tannins and some of the fruit acids must first be broken down, otherwise, the medlar tastes bitter and sour. Similar to kale, this happens as a result of the effects of frost or prolonged storage. Meanwhile, the sugar content increases and the fruit becomes edible. Then they can be used in different ways.
- Medlars are easy to eat raw. The skin is also edible, but it can be a bit tough under certain circumstances. In this case, you should peel the fruit by scoring the skin with a sharp knife and peeling it off from there. Any brown spots on the skin are not a sign that the fruit is spoiled.
- The fruits can also be processed into jam, jelly, jam, or compote.
- The fruits are suitable for various desserts, for example, chopped up in fruit salads, with ice cream, or on cakes. Mixed with cinnamon and honey, the fresh aroma of the medlar comes into its own.
- Medlars can also be combined with savory dishes: Poultry dishes, for example, get a fruity, sweet flavor component.
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