Kitchen Garden Forum

A couple of years ago we bought a medlar tree - more for it's ornamental value than anything else.
This year we have harvested a bumper crop - well OK we have just picked five medlars but considering the tree only had five flowers and it is only a baby that wasn't bad. Now apparently we have to 'blet' them - which seems to mean let them start to rot - before they are edible. Has anyone any experience of growing or even eating medlars. Must admit having mixed feelings. There are some photos on our website if you dont have any idea what they look like and are curious. http://glallotments.co.uk/Medlars.aspx

We have had a medlar for a few years and it always flowers well (and very decoratively) and fruits. We have only tried once using the fruits. Until "bletted" they are inedible - when soft the flesh is rather like a gritty apple sauce gone bad. An acquired taste - which we failed to acquire. But, please, give it a try.

What I like about the medlar is its history. In ruder days it was known in English as "openarse" - its Welsh name is still "afal tinagored" which means the same!




Article on medlars for anyone who wonders what we're talking about.

With an Olde English name like that, i think i would be tempted to leave them on the trees for any constipated Squirrels that might be passing.

I read about the nicknames too but was too polite to mention them. They didn't inspire confidence to eat the fruit.
Another French nickname is 'cul de chien' which politely translated - as I am a polite girl - is 'dog's bottom'
Another good article is http://www.kitchengardeners.org/2006/01/medlar.html

you might want to look up medieval recipes... as they were pretty popular back then...
a tart:
http://www.ars-grin.gov/cor/cool/medlar.tart.html

a (non medieval) wine:
http://www.wine-making-guides.com/medlar_wine.html

and this sounds gorgeous:
http://www.frenchgardening.com/cuisine. ... 5757413456

yum.
my dream orchard will have a medlar, just for the curiousity value.

Hi Alia,
I'll keep the recipe links for aother year as this year I only have 5 fruits!

They're known locally here as the dog's bottom but we do like the taste despite that. We've planted some in our orchard and have made jam and jelly. Let you know how it tastes!

My dear departed father used to both eat the bletted fruits and make a pale orange Medlar jelly.
Alas we left the house with the medlar in '77 and I cannot recall the taste of either.