Medlar

Crataegus germanica

fruit

A brown fruit of a small, very hardy tree from Asia Minor, inedible when hard: it is eaten only bletted, when its flesh turns brown, soft and sweet. It provides pectins.

Origin

Persia and Southeastern Europe

Season (United States)

October to December

Preparation

You suck out the soft flesh and spit out the skin and the five large seeds.

Molecules

PectinsIn small amounts, not counted Flavanols and procyanidins

Did you know?

It is harvested in October, after the first frosts; the tree withstands below −20 °C. Not to be confused with the loquat, from a quite different tree.