Pears Pears are fruit of the genus Pyrus, more
temperamental to grow than the apple and less
common, but called by some “the queen of
fruit” for their refinement of flavor, texture,
and shape. Pears are less tart than apples, and
denser. The familiar elongated European
pears, with mostly smooth flesh, are varieties
of the west Asian Pyrus communis. “Asian
pears” are varieties of two species native to
China but intensively improved in Japan, P.
pyrifolia and P. ussuriensis. They have a juicy
but crisp flesh, more or less gritty with
cellulose-rich “stone cells,” and may be
elongated or apple-shaped. The characteristic
aroma of pears comes from several esters,
including the “pear ester” (ethyl
decadienoate).
Some Distinctive Apple Flavors and VarietiesFlavor Varieties
Simple, Gravenstein, Granny