Medlar The Mystery Fruit You Should Know
Medlar, the mystery fruit you should know is also known as Mespilus germanica are fruits once forgotten and then found again, and are nowadays recommended for their ability to help treat heart problems, cardiovascular disease and high cholesterol.
Protein, nitrogenic compounds, sugar, minerals, vitamins, and organic acids, particularly malic acid are the compounds found in Medlar. The mineral content is primarily made up of iron, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium – all materials necessary for a properly functioning heart and cardiovascular system. The vitamins with the highest count are the A and C antioxidants and vitamin B2, which will please vegetarians and vegans.
Malic acid plays an indispensable role in combating diabetes thanks to the way in which it can adjust blood sugar levels. The high water content works hand-in- hand with sodium and mineral salts to create a diuretic effect and, combined with tannins, it alleviates diarrhea, especially in children.
What is Medlar?
Medlar enjoys dry and sunny areas. It was brought to Europe (then-Germania) from Persia around the eighth century and was quickly domesticated, the Medlar fruit is also native to Southwest Asia. Medlar has always been a desirable plant, because its fruits are not only tasty and healthy, but also decorative. Even Shakespeare mentions it in two of his plays. It is a non-demanding tree or bush that grows 3-5 meters tall and has a beautiful tree top of dark green leaves. It blooms white and looks rather like a blooming apple tree. The fruits are similar to apples or briars; they are green-brown hairy pomes 0.8-2 inches or 2-5 centimeters in size. They become ripe only after the first frost.
Until medlar undergoes frosts, the pomes are hard and bitter, akin to unripe plums. After the frosts the pomes soften and the flavor grows into one resembling a mildly steamed apple. Walking through the winter garden, one can pick medlars directly from the tree and squeeze the juice straight into the mouth. If you don’t like the flavor, do not worry; they have a number of uses in the kitchen as well.
Medlar pomes can be collected as early as fall and should be left in a box for a few weeks to grow ripe and soft. Taste and aroma-wise, the flavor will not be as strong as in those fruits that experienced a frost.
Growing Medlar
It is quite easy to grow medlars in a garden. All you have to do is plant one tree. The medlar tree is self-pollinating, meaning it does not need external pollinators to bear fruits easily. It usually multiplies through grafting on pear trees or haw, which makes planting it deep ideal, as it needs to be grafted about 8 inches or 20 centimeters underground. This makes it assimilate with the roots and grow its own without the rootstock sprouting stems While medlars appreciate a warm, well-lit location, they also do well in half-shade and at heights above 700 meters or 2,300 feet. It is a frost resistant plant and does not suffer from pests. Apart from a basic cut in its first year, it does not require pruning.
A medlar tree with naked roots can be purchased in any gardening store with fruit trees. It should be planted between the time when the first leaves have fallen, and the spring’s first buds have appeared the period of vegetational inaction.
Keep the roots wet. They must never be allowed to dry out. Soak them nicely one day before planting by placing them in a container filled with water. Cut away dead or damaged roots up to their healthy parts.
If you grow fond of medlar, you can plant more trees in the garden.
Medlar Liquor
INGREDIENTS:• 21 oz. / 600 g. medlar fruits• 17 fl oz. / 500 ml. quality vodka or Brandy
PREPARATION: Wash and dry the medlars and put them into jars. Dissolve the sugar in vodka and pour the mixture on the fruit. Shake the jar once or twice a day for a week. After the week has passed, store the mix for six months in a cold, dark place. At the end, filter the mix through linen and pour it into bottles or a carafe. Take a teaspoon or two each day.