The market · Fruit · Northern and Central Europe, East Asia

Pears

Picked hard and ripened off the tree — and perfect for only a short while once it gets there.

sweet · floral · honeyed
Pearsat its peak

What to do with it

Classics built on it
MexicanChiles en nogadaRoasted poblano chillies stuffed with a picadillo of meat and fruit, under a cold walnut cream and scattered with pomegranate and parsley.No one here has made it yet

Kinds

Conference
Long and firm; holds its shape when poached.
Comice
Buttery and juicy — for eating with cheese.
Nashi / Asian pear
Round, crisp and watery; grated into Korean marinades.

Goes with

blue cheesewalnutdark chocolatered wine

Knowing it

Where to buy
Buy firm and ripen at home. Press gently by the stalk: when it gives, it's ready.

More fruit, in season with it

at its peakFruitApplescrisp, tartsoursweet4 classicsFruitApricotshoneyed, floral, tartsoursweetNot cooked here yetFruitBergamotsfloral, perfumed, bittersourbitterNot cooked here yetFruitBlackberriesjammy, sweet, tartsourNot cooked here yet