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Re: Ripe medlars

Posted by Brian from Shawnee on December 15, 2004

In Reply to: Re: Ripe medlars posted by Shae on December 15, 2004

: : : Can anyone explain to me the meaning of

: : : "Time and straw make the medlars ripe"?

: : : Why straw? And what are medlars anyway?

: : : JC

: : Medlars are a fruit which has to partially rot (bletting as I believe it is known) before it is edible. This takes time, and I think that traditionally they were packed in boxes of straw to allow the process to take place.

: : DFG

: Spot on as always, David. My edition of 'Trees and Shrubs' by F. A. Bush (I kid you not!) has:

: Mespilus germanica (Medlar) . . . If the fruit is wanted it should be left on the tree until late October and stored until it appears in the first stages of decay; then it is ready for eating. More often the fruit is used for making jelly.

: Since it's a UK publication, I presume 'jelly' equates to the US 'jello.'

We have jelly in the U.S., too. "Jell-O" is the brand name of a popular instant gelatin dessert.