Once more Rob Clisdell has provided me with information regarding seasonal fruits and their best uses – in this case pears.
In the following chart the varieties of pears are listed according to order of ripening. The list does not include all possible varieties, but provides a simple guide to many of the common varieties and their best culinary uses. Again, Rob hastens to add, these are recommendations only.
Rob says that the new season’s trees are starting to show up in stores, and that they are generally in good condition with little or no damage to the tree.
Variety |
Eating
|
Bottling |
Drying |
Cooking |
Comments |
Clapps |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
Williams (WBC)
|
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
The best pear for bottling. It can be misshapen due to the cool spring in Tasmania |
Packham
|
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
Beurre Bosch
|
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
This would be the best pear for cooking due to its exceptional flavour. Those grown in Tasmania are best due to the cools night which give the best flavour |
Winter Cole
|
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
This is the Moor Park of pear in Tasmania |
Josephine
|
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
Winter Neils
|
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Not common, but may be found in older back yards and very old orchards |
Colrella
|
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |