Medlars

Although not usually available in the shops, medlars may be cultivated in the garden or found growing in the wild. This 5 cm (2 in) fruit resembles a large rosehip or small crabapple, with a warm golden-brown skin crowned with a five-tailed calyx.

Medlars do not ripen on the tree, and so after picking they need to be allowed to become soft enough to be edible. This can be done by packing the fruit in bran or laying it in straw until the acids and tannins have broken down. Once softened, the flesh may be scooped out and eaten with sugar and cream or the whole fruit can be baked, sieved and made into a slightly bitter jelly or purée. The flesh has a tart, spicy taste and a slightly granular texture, slightly reminiscent of marzipan.