Forest Beauty Pears
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Forest Beauty pears are medium-sized fruits that have an oval, squat shape with a bulbous base tapering slightly into a rounded neck. The skin is thin, rough, covered in lenticels, and is golden yellow, developing a bright red blush on the surface exposed to the sun. Underneath the delicate skin, the flesh is crisp, ivory to pale yellow, dense, and aqueous with a central, fibrous core encasing a few brown seeds. Forest Beauty pears, when ripe, are aromatic with a slippery, tender consistency and have a very sweet flavor mixed with subtle sour notes.
Seasons/Availability
Forest Beauty pears are available in the summer through early fall.
Current Facts
Forest Beauty pears, botanically classified as Pyrus communis, are a sweet, autumn variety that belongs to the Rosaceae family. First discovered in Belgium, Forest Beauty pears are favored for their juicy, fine-grained flesh, quality flavor, and ability to be grown in a wide variety of climates. The variety was widely popular in Europe in the late 19th century and became one of the most famous pears for eating fresh, out-of-hand. Despite their easy-to-grow nature, Forest Beauty pears have a short shelf life, and the pears must be harvested one week before reaching full maturity in order to maintain their signature flavor.
Nutritional Value
Forest Beauty pears are an excellent source of fiber, which can help increase digestion and reduce inflammation in the colon and are a good source of vitamins C and K, and potassium. The pears also contain some phosphorus, calcium, iron, magnesium, and folate.
Applications
Forest Beauty pears are best suited for raw consumption as the sweet flavor and juicy nature of the flesh is showcased when consumed fresh, out-of-hand. The pears can be eaten whole, with the core discarded, sliced and tossed into green salads, mixed into fruit bowls, or delicately sliced and layered on cheese and appetizer boards. Forest Beauty pears can also be boiled in a simple syrup and made into a compote, simmered into a jam, or preserved in other methods for extended use. In addition to preserving, the pears can be baked, used as a topping on tarts, sliced and served over ice cream, or dried into a chewy, sweet snack. Forest Beauty pears pair well with honey, vanilla, crème fraiche, cheeses such as cheddar, goat, gorgonzola, and brie, bread, arugula, and nuts such as pecans, almonds, and walnuts. The fresh pears will keep 2-3 weeks when stored in the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
In Belgium, Forest Beauty pears are a favorite home garden variety as they are resistant to disease, a prolific producer, and can grow in cold regions with some frost. Beyond its favorable growth qualities, many of the trees planted in home gardens in Belgium have been standing for over 20-30 years, living through multiple generations of families. Many Belgium gardeners reminisce of eating the pears fresh in the garden when they were young with their parents or grandparents, giving the pears a nostalgic, youthful quality.
Geography/History
Forest Beauty pears are native to Belgium and were discovered growing naturally in a forest, which is also where the variety received its name. The pears became a popular cultivated variety through the promotion of J.B. Van Mos, a Belgian scientist, and in the late 19th century, Forest Beauty pears became one of the most famous varieties in Europe. Today Forest Beauty pears are still present in Europe, especially in the Baltic region, Ukraine, Belgium, Moldova, and Belarus, and the pears are also found in Central Asia and Russia. The Forest Beauty pears in the photograph above were discovered at the Green Market in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
