FreshPoint

Quince: the real fruit of the Cradle of Civilization.

Spending some of my childhood in the Middle East and also being a student of Theology (I was a youth minister in my early 20’s, but that is a story for another time), I am well aware of the history of the quince.  It is thought that when Eve bit into the apple, perhaps it was really a quince, since apples were basically unknown in that part of the world at that time. Paris of Troy was said to give out Golden apples, once again probably quinces to Aphrodite – The Goddess of Love and Fertility in Greek Mythology, who considered the quince sacred. Brides of that time would chew on quince to freshen their breath as they met their betrothed.  Closer to home, Thomas Jefferson had quince trees in his orchards at Monticello.

 

 

Quince is considered by some as one of the more difficult fruits to eat. Here’s why you need to cook quince:

For most people the quince is completely inedible when raw due to its astringent and sour flavor and requires some form of cooking to be edible.  And that’s why you need to cook quince. Chef Dan talks about it in his video.

That seems like a lot of work.  So you need to cook quince, but there’s also a huge reward.

So what is so special about the quince? David Karp of the LA Times writes: “It certainly is a paradoxical fruit, both homely and voluptuous, like a large, knobbly, fuzzy pear. Raw it is typically so hard, sour and astringent that in Turkey, the world’s largest producer, “to eat the quince” is slang meaning “to get into serious trouble.”  Now that doesn’t sound like the fruit that was the “Golden Apple” of the ancient world but the alluring fragrance and richness upon cooking will dispel any doubters.

Some common edible quince varieties:

• Orange : sweet – one of the few that some considered suitable for eating raw
• Pineapple : tart/firm used for cooking
• Cooke’s Jumbo: baking, preserves and Jellies
• Champion: baking, preserves and Jellies

Probably one of the best known uses for quince is as the main ingredient in Membrillo – a traditional accompaniment of choice for Manchego cheese.

 

 

Due the long history of this fruit, traditional dishes using Quince such as “Chorosht’e Be” or Quince Stew, a staple of festive Persian Jewish meals is how many of people are introduced to this complex, ancient fruit.

Creative chefs from around the world are working to combine the traditions of the old world to the palate of the new.

 

Quince is generally available year-round–with the peak season in the fall. Contact your Marketing Associate about availability and adding them to your next order. If you are not a customer, find out how to become one today!

Content provided by Ron Smith. Follow FreshPoint South Texas on Facebook and Instagram.

 

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