Medlars are an unattractive fruit, the name is rather rude in French !
Medlars were eaten commonly in England 100s of years ago because they provided something sweet in the winter.
Unusually you cannot eat a medlar straight from the tree , it has to be bletted. This is s process of letting it ripen slowly in the cool until it is soft and squishy and brown !
The Medlar tree originally comes from Persia and was eaten by the Greeks and Romans.
Maybe it will make a comeback !
Here is a lovely medlar tree I saw at Packwood House in Warwickshire this weekend.
NATURE TABLE EXPLORER 