Nashi Pear
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Nashi is also another spelling for the Nakhi people, a Nationality of China.
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 A Nashi Pear
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| Pyrus pyrifolia (Burm.) Nak. |
The Nashi Pear, Sand Pear, Apple Pear or Asian Pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) is a species of pear native to eastern Asia, where it is widely grown for its edible fruit. It is often referred to as the Japanese Pear or Taiwan Pear. These are juicy, round pears that are shaped like apples. Because of the resemblance, they are sometimes known as "apple pears". They are a popular fruit, eaten as a thirst quencher. They are sweet on the tree and are eaten crisp.
Nashi Pear flowers are white with five petals; they flower around April. The fruit is harvested in fall and nashi may be used as an autumn kigo, or "season word", in writing haiku.
Note that in Japanese, Nashi (梨) is the word for the Japanese apple-pear, while European Pears (Pyrus communis) are called Yō-nashi (洋梨), which is literally Western Nashi. See also the similar Ya Pear (Pyrus bretschneideri), grown in China.
[edit] Culture
In Japan, Nashi Pears are harvested in Chiba, Ibaraki, Tottori, Fukushima, Tochigi, Nagano and other prefectures. In China, Nashi Pears have been considered a popular and sacred fruit. Many popular sayings have come from the Nashi Pear.
In Taiwan, Nashi Pears harvested in Japan have become luxurious presents since 1997 and its consumption has jumped.
[edit] Nashi Pear cultivars
Important cultivars of Nashi Pear include:
- 'Kosui' (Japan, 1959; the most important cultivar in Japan)
- 'Hosui' (Japan, 1972)
- 'Nijisseiki' (Japan, 1898; name means "20th century", also spelled 'Nijusseiki')
- 'Niitaka' (Japan, 1927)
- 'Shinko' (Japan, 1941)
- 'Chojuro' (Japan, 1893?)
