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Asian or Oriental Pears
The Asian or oriental pear has been in this country since the late 1800s but has not been planted regularly until the last 10 years. These pears, sometimes referred to as oriental pears, Chinese pears, or Japanese pears, are considerably different from the old, hard, homegrown varieties like Keiffer and Seckel. Asian pears have a distinct but pear-like taste and a crisp texture, much like a good apple. Many Asian pear varieties also have an apple-like shape, and this combination of taste, texture, and shape causes many people to refer to them as "apple pears." They are sometimes also called "salad pears" or "sand pears." Their flesh is crisp, sometimes gritty, and always very sweet. They do not have the buttery flesh of European pears. Their skin is often russetted.