Quince

Gold cherry

By Rhiannonw

Thu, 04 Oct 2018
  • 3873 reads
17 comments
 

Misshapen shiny pear
with clinging fluffy hair,
bright yellow, perfume sweet
– too hard and tart to eat
raw –
flesh cut and chopped cooks,
mushes quickly
thickly:
a little add to savour
its delicate flavour
in your apple crumble.

 

Certificate U
Poem
Nature
Nature

Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Love this piece Rhiannon. Added to the apple crumble mouth watering to read.

Jenny.

 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Jenny. A friend has a tree full of them, and offered me a couple. I thought they would take ages to cook, and so was surprised. I have been wary of putting in too much as the flavour probably wouldn't be so pleasant if too much of it, but yes lovely - we've just eaten a little crumble so flavoured, as she'd given me a few more, but I think that I have enough little packets frozen now! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Kilb50 on

Nice poem about a very enigmatic fruit Rhiannon. Monty Don was chatting about Quince on Gardener's World recently. I must add it to my crumble sometime!

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you. It was quite new to me. I've come across bushes/hedges of flowering quince which is rather different I think, with small fruit - I've no idea if they are edible, but this seemed very strange! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

I have some growing on a tree and they are the most extraordinary things - so huge - bigger than apples - in fact I'm a bit concerned they're going to break the branches they hang from, but I read I mustn't pick them til November. They feel exactly as you describe too - oddly soft and downy!

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Insert. Maybe we are further south than you. Some of them were very odd shapes, and more hairy/downy when still green I gather. Cutting up the flesh was quite hard work! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

I'm not sure about being further south Rhiannon. I'm near Cambridge. Mine are golden yellow like in your photo. do you think I should pick them now? The article I googled said pick in November and then store for a couple of months before using

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Sorry, I don't know at all. But these were in a big box at our Harvest Festival display afterwards, and looked as if they had had to be picked now. Maybe google some more, or try picking one? Are fruit earlier this year after the hot summer? Rhiannon

 

Submitted by YaseminB on

excellent and i love quince.

Yasemin Balandi

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you for the cherries. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

A fitting tribute to this rarely appreciated fruit Rhiannon, I must investigate the perfume sweet and the blossom is truly stunning.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Jane. The perfume is certainly interesting. I hope 'sweet' is a fair description, partly. I haven't seen the blossom, but I've just looked it up and it is stunning. The blossom of the 'flowering quince' hedge is  attractive. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

they always seem old fashioned to me cos of Quince in Midsummer Night's Dream. And before our obsession with fruit and vegetables having to look perfect. It's nice even if they look a bit lumpy they smell gorgeous. Your poem makes me want to try one!

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Yes, they do look rather big and ugly and lumpy, and no delicate shading in the skin, unlike the exotic flowers, but the perfume/scent is fairly subtle. Very unusual! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

This wonderful poem is our Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day!

Please share/retweet if you liked it too

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you! Rhiannon