Wild pear: edible or not? Everything you need to know

Wild pear: edible or not? Everything you need to know
Wild pear: edible or not? Everything you need to know
Anonim

Cultivated pears have become an integral part of many gardens. But hardly anyone knows that the numerous varieties come from wild pears. This grows in the forests and develops fruits that are only edible after processing.

Use wild pear
Use wild pear

Are wild pears edible?

Wild pears are edible, but only when they are overripe or after the first frosts, as they then lose their bitter tannins and fruit acids. Their consistency becomes floury and they can be dried or baked to be edible.

Appearance

Wild pears can grow like a tree or bush depending on the amount of light. They develop a curved trunk that ends in a spreading crown. From April to May they bear pure white flowers on the leaves-free and weakly thorned branches. The foliage emerges shortly after the flowers develop. The leaves have long stalks and are rounded to heart-shaped. In late summer, brownish to yellowish fruits develop that are four to six centimeters long.

Flowers

When flower buds appear on the wild pear, the time has come for the harvest. As a side dish, the buds enrich wild herb salads. They can be used to prepare teas or lemonades with wild herbs. The buds taste mild and are suitable for sweet surprises. Sprinkle the closed flowers with sugar water and candy them on a tray in the oven over low heat.

Fruits

The pears are rich in tannins, pectin and fruit acids. Their taste is tart and sour and has an astringent effect. Only when they are overripe or after the first frost do they lose their bitter tannins and fruit acids. Their consistency will be floury. To speed up this process and make the fruits edible, the fruits can be dried and baked.

Wild pears are not suitable for making wine and must because they quickly lose their fruit acid and the consistency changes. Together with cultivated pears or apples, wild pears can be processed into brandy and vinegar.

Past usage

In times gone by, wild pears were a nutritious dish when dried or baked. 25 pounds of wild pear seeds were pressed and processed into three pounds of cooking oil. The juice of the pears was used to make syrup, which was used as a sugar substitute. It was also used as a remedy for diarrhea. The wild pear has been said to have healing effects on migraines.

Wild pears were used at

  • Toothache
  • Gout
  • Consumption
  • Detoxification of the body
  • Pyelonephritis

Recommended: