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Article: Asian pears, a pear by any other name.(EN on Foods)
- Article from:
- Environmental Nutrition
- Article date:
- September 1, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 Belvoir Media Group, LLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The Folklore. The Asian pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) is known by many names such as apple-pear, Chinese pear, Nashi and sand pear. The oldest known of cultivated pears, the Asian pear dates back 3,000 years to China and Japan, perhaps even back to the Stone Age. Chinese railroad workers brought the seeds to California during the Gold Rush. It is the Chinese symbol of immortality (pear trees live a very long time) and prosperity, and is believed to carry medicinal properties.
The Facts. Pears belong to the rose family, relatives of the apple and quince. Though all pears share a common parentage, the firm, crisp Asian pear differs genetically from the soft buttery flesh ...