FoodFood InformationFruitDeciduousPears
Comice pears, which made their debut in France around 1850, aren't the
prettiest variety, but beneath their drab exterior lies the most juicy and
possibly the most flavorful pear in the world. This delicately flavored
fruit is prized by gourmets and served in Europe's most posh haute cuisine
restaurants as a dessert pear. The largest and the best Comice are skimmed
off and sold in costly gift packages via mail order.
The Comice is squat and chubby and has a dull, usually mottled, light green
skin. It occasionally sports a red cheek. Because it is a most difficult
variety to grow without skin blemishes, a fairly large percentage of the
annual crop doesn't meet USDA standards for US #1. However, the skin discoloration's
and blemishes do not mar the flavor.
The Comice arrive in late October and are usually sold out by Christmas.
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