I love snow pears.  This is the edible fruit from the snow pear tree and this fruit is juicy, has high water content, slightly sweet, very crunchy, and has a light, lively flavour to it.  

They grow round, like soft balls, and have a very hard, rough exterior and an even crunchier interior.   You’ll find this type of tree or fruit in cooler climates.

Snow pears tend to be more cooling, or helps relieve heat from the body.  You can find this ingredient both in a dried and fresh version for soups and Chinese desserts. 

Some nice substitutes if you can’t find snow pears are crystal pears (bigger and crunchier and have a more transparent flesh), or apples.  Apples are also a yummy substitute for your dessert or soup.  You’ll sometimes find a combination of apples and snow pears as well.

How do I prepare it?

• Wash the snow pears in warm running water
• Halve the snow pear and core
• Use halves for soups as the pears sometimes disintegrate if they are too small
• I will also remove all the seeds and stems from the pear
• I also keep the skin on, although this part sometimes tends to be slightly sour, but it helps keep the pear together in the soup or dessert and prevents it from melting into the hot water

What are the precautions?

• • • Pears, especially Snow Pears, are known to be a “cooling” food
    • Women who are pregnant or menstruating should take caution when consuming Snow Pears

You can find references here:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pear
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrus_nivalis