A Plea for "Pear"ity
Like Paris Hilton to sister Nikki and Jessica Simpson to sister Ashlee, the apple has always outshined the pear. The pear's less popular status is probably due to the fact that it is more fragile than its rose-family sibling. However, pears - with their many varieties - deserve a second look.
Pears are native to Europe and West Asia, and most of the current varieties are the result of crossbreeding. Settlers brought the first pear trees to America's eastern colonies, and the trees eventually made their way to Oregon and Washington. Today's Northwest varieties are similar to those first cultivated in France and Belgium.
Pears are divided into two main types - European and Asian. Asian pears have a milder, less acidic flavor. They also have sweet juiciness and a crunchy texture, and they ripen completely on the tree. European pears have smooth, fine-grained, juicy flesh. Their flavor is usually sweet and well balanced, and they continue to ripen after they've been harvested.
Among the popular European varieties are the Anjou, Bartlett, Bosc, Comice, and Seckel. The Anjou has a short neck and light green, yellowish green, or red skin with a juicy, buttery textured flesh. The Bartlett, also known as the Williams, has a skin that changes from light green to golden yellow during ripening. The bosc has a long, thin neck and thick, rough skin that is brown to yellow in color and is especially good for poaching. The comice is rounder than the Bartlett with a short neck and greenish yellow skin with pink or brown tinges when ripe; it is considered by many to be the perfect eating pear and is often served with cheese. Seckel pears are named for the 18th Century Pennsylvania farmer credited with introducing them. Seckels are small and round with olive-green and maroon skin and a spicy flavor; their size makes them ideal for poaching or pickling whole. These are just a few of the several thousand varieties of pears grown throughout the world.
Though the apple seems to have garnered more of the spotlight than its dainty sibling, the pear certainly has its place in history and in our repertoire of healthy snacks. In fact, Pliny the Elder, the Roman Encyclopedist, lists more pears than apples in his works. In The Odyssey, Homer refers to pears as a "gift of the gods." In The Twelve Days of Christmas,the partridge in a pear tree is a symbol of Jesus. Additionally, pears have appeared in countless Renaissance paintings. Enjoying the taste of a pear is a lot more fun than recognizing its popularity, however. Try it paired with butternut squash; it can make an ideal ingredient for a sinfully rich soup and super simple fall soup.
