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Yali Asian Pears
Inventory, 11 lbs : 0
Description/Taste
Yali pears are medium to large in size and are tear-drop shaped, usually slanted to one side with a large base that tapers to a smaller, narrow neck with a characteristically long, brown stem. The thin, green skin transforms to yellow when ripe and is firm and smooth with light russeting and prominent lenticels or pores covering the surface. The flesh is white to cream-colored, crisp, moist, fine-textured, and aromatic, encasing a central core with a few small, black seeds. Yali pears are also somewhat softer than other Asian pears, making them more susceptible to bruising. When ripe, Yali pears are sweet, mildly tart, and juicy, with flavor notes of cinnamon, anise, spice, and vanilla.
Seasons/Availability
Yali pears are available in the early fall through winter.
Current Facts
Yali pears, botanically classified as Pyrus pyrifolia, are an Asian variety that are members of the Rosaceae family along with apricots and apples. Also known as Ya Li and Chinese White pears, Yali pears are one of the more popular Asian cultivars in China, and are also one of the most commercially cultivated, accounting for over 34% of the country's pear exports. Yali pears are also popular in Korea and Japan and are favored for their sweet flavor and delicate texture.
Nutritional Value
Yali pears are an excellent source of vitamin C and copper and are a good source of dietary fiber, potassium, antioxidants, and vitamin K.
Applications
Yali pears are best suited for both raw and cooked applications such as roasting and grilling. They can be consumed fresh, out-of-hand, substituted for regular pears in many recipes, blended into squash soup, sliced in green salads with Thai basil, crab, tofu or chicken, pasta salads, and fruit salads with grapes and apples. They can also be poached in wine or halved, roasted or grilled, and served with pork, lamb, and chicken dishes. Yali pears compliment hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios, and pine nuts, honey, golden raisins, persimmons, apricots, figs, apples, lemon, orange, honey, beets, squash, sweet potatoes, herbs such as basil, dill, and parsley, cheeses such as parmesan, feta, goat, cheddar, and blue, and spices such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, rosemary, and anise. They will keep up to one week at room temperature and up to three weeks when stored in the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
In Chinese, ya means "duck," and li means "pear," so Ya-Li is often referred to as “duck pear.” Yali pears, like many other Asian pear varieties, are used in Chinese medicine for detoxifying the body and in treatments for coughs, laryngitis, ulcers, and constipation. They are also used to help promote a healthy complexion, eliminate under eye circles, and help relieve retina pain.
Geography/History
Yali pears are native to China and Japan and have been cultivated for thousands of years. In Asia, pears are referred to as nashi, which is the Japanese word for pear. The fruit dates back to ancient civilizations in the Eastern region of the continent and still grow widely in the area. Today Yali pears can be found at local markets and specialty grocers in Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, Europe, and the United States.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Yali Asian Pears. One
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