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"Fragrant Pears" At San Gabriel Superstore [moved from L.A. board]

Ran across a fruit I had never seen in a Chinese or other supermarket before at the San Gabriel Superstore at Valley Bl. and San Gabriel Bl. They were called fragrant pears and were selling for $1.09 a pound. It was shaped like a regular pear, colored like a regular pear (green with orangeish areas), but was the size of a large lemon. The texture of the fruit was like an Asian pear, but the taste was not that of an Asian pear or a regular pear. I don't know how to describe it. Anybody know more about this fruit?

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  1. They're small ya-li pears and you're right, the taste is different. They were handing out samples in the Focus Plaza 99 Ranch on Saturday.

    1. Recently discovered these myself and they're delicious! The taste is really "fragrant in a sort of floral way and the texture is very light while being very juicy. They're very refreshing and I like how they're not overly huge like other Asian pears. Next up to try are grapples ..

      2 Replies
      1. re: TracyS

        I love grapples. :) It's difficult to explain, and of course there's more apple than grape - since you are biting into an apple - but it's sweet and not too tart, just a right mix.

        1. re: TracyS

          Anyone know what is the chemical that they inundate the apples with to achieve the concord grape aroma? I am guessing its 1-thio-methyl salicylate. I have used this compound in the lab and it smells EXACTLY like a grapple. I think it may be authentic "grape" aroma, but I'm not sure. Anyone else have a aguess as to what chemical is making the apple into a grapple?

          1. New York Times had a write-up on these. They're from Xinjiang and take 3 weeks to get here.


            2 Replies
            1. re: Chandavkl

              Interesting article.

              The Yali that I get has neither tough flesh nor bland flavor although I do agree that the Xinjiang fragrant pear is more delicate in texture.

              1. re: Chandavkl

                soooo.... that means its coming by slow boat from China?


              2. The fragrant pears are not the same as the yali pears. Ilike the fragrant pears much better than any other kind, except for the ones you can get in the Far East, of course.