dicksond wrote:Pluots are okay, but the one variety I have tried did not add much for me, so I look forward to the report, EC.

I wish I had an earth-shattering, mouth-watering report full of photos and glowing recommendations for you. I do not.

I tasted the variety of pluots that I bought from Marketplace and they tasted like, well, plums. I do not know the common names for the varieites that I tasted but there were purple (black) ones, red ones, and a couple different speckled/striped ones.

They were all sweet and juicy and tasted just like plums. Without the little "pluot" sticker, I would have guessed these were plums all along. The only detectable difference in taste was a lack of astringency in the skins that is normally found in a plum. Perhaps this reduction in sharpness is the big benefit of this hybrid, towards which I hold no hostility whatsoever.

Best,
Michael

Well, call me a sourpuss, but I like the astringency of plum skins ( X 75 )

Saw strawberries last week at the Green City Market. There are everbearing hybrids of strawberries, although they do not bear as well in the dog days. I did not taste them, so I will remain neutral in the hybrid vs. stupid fruit discussion, as pertains to strawberries

My problem with the pear-apple is that is has the texture of an apple, but with a very-watered down taste of pear. At least the ones I've had. I love apples and pears separetely, and the pear-apple seems to have none of what I love about both these fruits.

I generally agree with you, though I enjoy them. The crunchiness, juiciness and touch of fruitiness work well. They remind me more of jicama than anything else. Perhaps, Binko, the name is the problem. Calling them Apple Pears made you expect one thing, and what you get was something with a little similarity to apples, and more to a just ripe pear, but really is pretty different.

Now the grapple, I still maintain that's stupid

I tend to agree, tho I sort of respect the effort. There also is a generational thing going on here - purple and green are hot colors for sweet things, where it used to be red and yellow.

Now I need to try a grapple.

dicksond wrote:

They remind me more of jicama than anything else. Perhaps, Binko, the name is the problem. Calling them Apple Pears made you expect one thing, and what you get was something with a little similarity to apples, and more to a just ripe pear, but really is pretty different.

You do have a point. They are similar to jicama (and I quite like jicama, especially tossed in powdered chiles and lime.) But the name does set up some expectations, and fulfils neither, hence my disappointment. I might have to give them another shot, with a more open mind.

In my experience, Asian pears, apple-pears, whatever you call them, vary a lot. Some are nearly flavorless and not even very juicy, while some are quite delicious. I have a feeling that the darker ones tend to taste better but I'm not sure.