Perhaps the strangest of English fruits, certainly the most under-used!
Once one of the most common tree fruits it offered the only burst of sweetness in the darkest days of the year. During the Middle Ages this relative of Apples, Quince and Roses, originating in Iran and brought to England by the Romans, was found everywhere. Hard, acidic and tannic when picked or falling from the tree in late November, it is only as the fruit “blets” or starts to decay after several weeks storage that the flesh is transformed into a dense fudgey texture (similar to a date) – the tannins transform into sugar but the whole is lifted by a hint of acidity.
Still popular in Shakespeare’s day, Mercutio mocks Romeo as follows:
If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark.Now will he sit under a medlar tree,And wish his mistress were that kind of fruitAs maids call medlars when they laugh alone.Romeo, that she were, O, that she wereAn open-arse, or thou a popp’rin pear!
Of course, in part the Medlar’s decline in popularity may be down to poor PR and this type of innuendo. Although we now know the fruit by its Mediaeval French name, the present day naming in France is less enticing.- Cul de Chien – I’ll leave you to google the translation! The Old English name, first written down by local monk AElfric of Eynsham (10th Century), is similarly themed … “Openaers”. This, combined with the fact that the fruit is only ready to eat when it is starting to decompose may explain why it has disappeared.
Luckily we have a healthy tree here at the farm and this has been a particularly productive year. Our first fruits are now well-bletted and we thoroughly recommend you visit the farm to try some this weekend.
Of course there are lots of other reasons to visit too – our potted bulbs are just starting to show and we have pots of Amaryllis, Paperwhites and Hyacinth for sale. The bulbs are all planted in hand-thrown terracotta pots from Willow Pottery and then dressed with Sphagnum moss and hazel twigs. They would make fantastic centrepieces for Christmas tables/decorations whether for gifts or as a present for yourself. Some will be in flower for Christmas but most will bring beauty and scent to your homes during the dark days of January.
Finally, we have our Christmas meats available over the coming days. We have limited numbers of dressed Geese, Red Bourbon Turkeys and Saddleback Hams available to buy. All our own free-range and organic-fed animals and all truly delicious. Too few and varied in size to sell on the website, please email me if you want to know more details or to order something.
