Medlar an unusual fruit
 

I pulled my medlars to make jelly this week and came across some unusual
examples.

This is the bottom view of a typical fruit. They are about 4-5 cm across.
You can see why it is called the 'open arse fruit'.

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/...arNoLeaves.jpg


Here is a strange one. As far as I can tell there are leaves growing from
the fruit itself, not something you see too often.

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/...dlarLeaves.jpg

The same album shows the tree and flowers for those who are interested.

David

I thought one generally made medlar jelly with bletted medlars, to get that particular medlar flavour, hence picking them in mid Autumn. Though one recipe I saw suggested keeping the medlars in a bowl for some days to soften if they hadn't bletted on the tree. Either way, picking them now seems very early - you wouldn't pick your Bramleys now to turn into jelly would you, even if they had enlarged.

Surely the "leaves" are the flower sepals, having an unusual persistence: just the same thing as one sees blackened around the arse end of an apple, but on a larger scale and staying green for longer.

Medlar an unusual fruit
 

David Hare-Scott wrote:
I pulled my medlars to make jelly this week and came across some unusual
examples.

This is the bottom view of a typical fruit. They are about 4-5 cm across.
You can see why it is called the 'open arse fruit'.

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/...arNoLeaves.jpg

interesting looking fruit. what does it taste like?


Here is a strange one. As far as I can tell there are leaves growing from
the fruit itself, not something you see too often.

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/...dlarLeaves.jpg

i've never seen the tree/flowers/fruit before, thanks for
the pictures.

cannot say too much about development or oddballness of
this picture, but i'd say the fruit looks similar enough
to apple, pear or blueberry with the bits hanging off the
bottom.


The same album shows the tree and flowers for those who are interested.


songbird

Medlar an unusual fruit
 

echinosum wrote:
'David Hare-Scott[_2_ Wrote:
;961257']I pulled my medlars to make jelly this week

As far as I can tell there are leaves growing from the fruit itself,
not something you see too often.
I thought one generally made medlar jelly with bletted medlars, to get
that particular medlar flavour, hence picking them in mid Autumn.

I pick as late as possible, the leaves are falling now so there is no point
in keeping them on the tree any longer.

Though one recipe I saw suggested keeping the medlars in a bowl for
some days to soften if they hadn't bletted on the tree. Either way,
picking them now seems very early - you wouldn't pick your Bramleys
now to turn into jelly would you, even if they had enlarged.


No it is very late, these flowered in September. I am in Australia. This
is an international newsgroup!

Yes they do need to be bletted but after a cool damp summer they are not
going to do it on the tree so they are sitting on a table indoors ripening.
If the dogs will only stop stealing them.

Surely the "leaves" are the flower sepals, having an unusual
persistence: just the same thing as one sees blackened around the
arse end of an apple, but on a larger scale and staying green for
longer.

Quite possibly.

David

Although the medlar is no longer a common or even well recognized fruit, my parents have a medlar fruit trees in their orchard and this year I was lucky enough to get enough fruit to make into a jelly. The jelly is made in exactly the same manner as quince jelly, briefly the fruit is roughly chopped and covered with water, it is then simmered for three hours, then liquid is them filtered through a cheesecloth overnight, equal amount of sugar is added and the jelly is simmered until it gels. The resulting jelly is a lovely garnet color, but the real pleasure of the jelly is it's flavor and aroma. Simply stated no other fruit comes close to approaching the depth and complexity of flavor.

Medlar an unusual fruit
 

songbird wrote:
David Hare-Scott wrote:
I pulled my medlars to make jelly this week and came across some
unusual examples.

This is the bottom view of a typical fruit. They are about 4-5 cm
across. You can see why it is called the 'open arse fruit'.

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/...arNoLeaves.jpg

interesting looking fruit. what does it taste like?



Raw the flavour is not much, like quinces in that respect, nor is the
texture or colour. Cooked it makes good jelly which can be a vibrant red
colour and tastes like spicy apples.

Here is a strange one. As far as I can tell there are leaves
growing from the fruit itself, not something you see too often.

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/...dlarLeaves.jpg

i've never seen the tree/flowers/fruit before, thanks for
the pictures.

cannot say too much about development or oddballness of
this picture, but i'd say the fruit looks similar enough
to apple, pear or blueberry with the bits hanging off the
bottom.



They are close relatives of apples (and quinces and pears).

D

Medlar an unusual fruit
 

"echinosum" wrote in message
...

'David Hare-Scott[_2_ Wrote:
;961257']I pulled my medlars to make jelly this week

As far as I can tell there are leaves growing from the fruit itself, not
something you see too often.
I thought one generally made medlar jelly with bletted medlars, to get
that particular medlar flavour, hence picking them in mid Autumn.

Which of course is why David is picking them NOW. It is midwinter where he
and I live in the Southern Hemisphere.

Medlar an unusual fruit
 

"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
...
songbird wrote:
David Hare-Scott wrote:
I pulled my medlars to make jelly this week and came across some
unusual examples.

This is the bottom view of a typical fruit. They are about 4-5 cm
across. You can see why it is called the 'open arse fruit'.

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/...arNoLeaves.jpg

interesting looking fruit. what does it taste like?



Raw the flavour is not much, like quinces in that respect, nor is the
texture or colour. Cooked it makes good jelly which can be a vibrant red
colour and tastes like spicy apples.

Regardless of their taste or even usefulness (or that interestingly gritty
testure), I find them a most delightful small tree - gorgeous in Spring. I
had a brilliant crop this year and then the sodding parrots arrived and not
a one was left. And if I have to spread yet one more piece of bird netting
I think I'll spew so please don't suggest that I do that.

Medlar an unusual fruit
 

Farm1 wrote:
"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
...
songbird wrote:
David Hare-Scott wrote:
I pulled my medlars to make jelly this week and came across some
unusual examples.

This is the bottom view of a typical fruit. They are about 4-5 cm
across. You can see why it is called the 'open arse fruit'.

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/...arNoLeaves.jpg

interesting looking fruit. what does it taste like?



Raw the flavour is not much, like quinces in that respect, nor is the
texture or colour. Cooked it makes good jelly which can be a
vibrant red colour and tastes like spicy apples.

Regardless of their taste or even usefulness (or that interestingly
gritty testure), I find them a most delightful small tree - gorgeous
in Spring. I had a brilliant crop this year and then the sodding
parrots arrived and not a one was left. And if I have to spread yet
one more piece of bird netting I think I'll spew so please don't
suggest that I do that.

Yes in spring the flowers and new leaves are nice and so they are quite a
handsome tree without fruit. This can be seen in the other pictures for
those who don't have access to one.

D

While visiting Czech Rep (my wife is Czech) we have come across several people growing them there as ornamentals without realising the fruits have any use. This is surprising, as usually Czechs are more awake to the possibilities of using nature's bounty than the Brits.