DURONDEAU PEAR

The Durondeau Pear has a golden exterior with streaks of red blush and is covered all over in a soft russet. They are a bit tart with a crisp bite and a floral flavor.  Earl thought it was similar to the Winter Nellis pear or honey pear known for its sweet flavor that goes great with cheese platters or in salads.  The Durondeau is not a long term storage pear but it is amazing for fresh eating and cooking.  The light granular texture is similar to the Bosc Pear which is often used in desserts.  The Durondeau ripens similar to the Bosc, which gives less than other pears when you apply gentle pressure at the neck. As a reminder pears ripen from the inside out.

The Durondeau pear was originally cultivated in the garden of M. Durondeau, in the village of Tongre-Notre-Dame, Belgium in 1811. They are also sometimes called Tongre or De Tongre pears, after the city. It was grown in the United States as early as 1858, but seems to have since largely disappeared from cultivation in the western hemisphere.  We are excited to be able to offer the Durondeau pear!