BS: how does one eat a medlar (fruit)?

Subject: BS: how does one eat a medlar (fruit)?
From: maire-aine
Date: 29 Sep 09 - 12:48 AM

Or should one? I only recently learned that there was such a fruit, and that was only because I saw a photo in a magazine. After doing a little research, I found a source within a few hours drive. Now I'm getting curious. If I decide to obtain a few medlars, what does one do with them. Bake 'em in a pie??? or just eat them plain like an apple.

Thank you.

Subject: RE: BS: how does one eat a medlar (fruit)?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 29 Sep 09 - 02:26 AM

They should be eaten raw, but epicures say they should be allowed to 'blet' [become so over-ripe as to be on the verge of rotting] before they are fit to eat — there is a passage about it from Mercutio in Shax's Romeo&Juliet which is supposed to be very obscene to those who know this, and other Shaxn refs also which will be found in Wiki's entry on Mespilus [the medlar's botanical name]. This entry also gives advice on how to 'blet' [ie achieve the over-ripe] effect in the medlar, and how best to eat it.

Subject: RE: BS: how does one eat a medlar (fruit)?
From: M.Ted
Date: 29 Sep 09 - 02:45 AM

The medlar has a fairly vile reputation, partly because of the suggestive way that it spreads open up at the bottom as ripens, and partly because it actually has to begin to rot before it is edible. You can either wait until the frost gets them, or simply set them aside for a while. When skin starts to get wrinkly and the inside is squishy, you can scoop out what is inside and eat it, if you have a mind to. We used to call them crab apples, till we were told different, but that, more or less, is what they are. The fruit are only an inch or two in diameter, so don't get much for your work, but, some people like them--

Subject: RE: BS: how does one eat a medlar (fruit)?
From: M.Ted
Date: 29 Sep 09 - 02:52 AM

Sorry, I cross posted, MtheGM--they appeal to literary types, and also to children who, at least in my time. were tireless in their efforts to find new edibles in the gardens woods.

Subject: RE: BS: how does one eat a medlar (fruit)?
From: mandotim
Date: 29 Sep 09 - 03:14 AM

They make fantastic jelly (as in apple jelly) for eating with game or smoked ham. I sometimes use them to make a half and half jelly with quinces.
Tim

Subject: RE: BS: how does one eat a medlar (fruit)?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 29 Sep 09 - 05:45 AM

There are two kinds of medlar. The commoner one you see in shops in the UK is the Japanese one, also known as loquat or nespero (mushmula in Turkish and Serbo-Croat). They don't need to blet. Eat them raw, skin and all.

The seeds are easy to germinate and they make a nice houseplant. Frost will kill them.

Subject: RE: BS: how does one eat a medlar (fruit)?
From: bubblyrat
Date: 29 Sep 09 - 05:57 AM

There was a young fellow called Vince,
Who tried to make love to a quince;
'Til a travelling fruit-pedlar
   Cried "NO ! -Try a medlar !
Those quinces will just make you wince!".

Subject: RE: BS: how does one eat a medlar (fruit)?
From: M.Ted
Date: 29 Sep 09 - 06:40 AM

Loquats are infinitely more satisfying than medlars, and only distantly related.

Subject: RE: BS: how does one eat a medlar (fruit)?
From: GUEST,Dazbo at work
Date: 29 Sep 09 - 07:02 AM

On a repeat showing of a programme on the beeb of recreating a Stuart farm medlars were picked and stored until rotten before eating. The 'fresh' one tasted on screen was vile.

Subject: RE: BS: how does one eat a medlar (fruit)?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 29 Sep 09 - 07:29 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medlar

Subject: RE: BS: how does one eat a medlar (fruit)?
From: goatfell
Date: 18 Oct 09 - 02:17 PM

with your mouth

Subject: RE: BS: how does one eat a medlar (fruit)?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 18 Oct 09 - 02:38 PM

We have a big loquat tree just by the door. I peel the skin off but my husband bites into it, skin and all. It's no worse than an apple skin - and I prefer my apples peeled too!
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: how does one eat a medlar (fruit)?
From: GUEST,Mr Red
Date: 19 Oct 09 - 10:21 AM

One should eat them when they are bletted.
for breakfast
dictionary definition

That is roughly described as over-ripe and very dry. An aquired taste I read somewhere.
Not tried it myself, but Joy has a medlar tree and I will see this year. They are not turning in the UK so far this year. Still hard.

Subject: RE: BS: how does one eat a medlar (fruit)?
From: GUEST,guest, kate
Date: 31 Oct 09 - 09:15 AM

I was given some medlars from a tree in Somerset this week. They were hard until today when they sudenly turned and I have eaten one just now. It was OK - rather like an old apple. I am tempted to try and germinate the seeds now! One would need a lot to make it worth a batch of jelly or cheese.

Subject: RE: BS: how does one eat a medlar (fruit)?
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Nov 09 - 11:50 AM

I would say pear like

Subject: RE: BS: how does one eat a medlar (fruit)?
From: Smedley
Date: 01 Dec 09 - 03:19 AM

They make great jam.

Subject: RE: BS: how does one eat a medlar (fruit)?
From: Mr Red
Date: 18 Dec 09 - 05:35 AM

Pear like was me. When a pear goes over-ripe it is watery and has a distinctive ripe pear taste. Bletted medlars seem to have some of that taste but retain a paste consistency. Acquired taste but Yum.