Medlar — The Fruit of Time and Mockery

Medlar, I’ve been curious about these fruits for years, yet never tried cooking with them.

Aside from its intense flavor profile, the medlar (Mespilus germanica) has long fascinated both cooks and artists. Commonly depicted in medieval art, the tree is easily recognized for its distinctive fruit — shaped like a gigantic rosehip, with hues ranging from rosy rust to dusty orange-brown.

Its curious appearance has also made it the butt of many jokes throughout history. In medieval Europe, the medlar was often compared to “cat” or “dog arses,” earning it crude nicknames and bawdy associations. Its form, combined with the fact that it is eaten only when “bletted” — that is, overripe and soft — inspired centuries of playful and indecent metaphors.

Even Shakespeare joined in. In Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio quips:

“Now will he sit under a medlar tree,
And wish his mistress were that kind of fruit
As maids call medlars, when they laugh alone.
O Romeo, that she were, O that she were
An open-arse and thou a pop'rin pear!”

Once a staple in old European orchards, the medlar sits at the intersection of humor, decay, and indulgence — a fruit that must first rot to become edible. It takes patience and time to reach that soft, caramelized sweetness. I’ll share my results soon on Instagram. and how to prep on Youtube

Now I am using them as a display, waiting for them to be ripen..

Inspiration : https://www.homeorchardeducationcenter.org/arboretum-blog/medlar-delicious-ancient-amp-rotten