Snow Pears

by | Apr 7, 2009 | Ingredients | 0 comments

Ingredient Name:

Snow Pears or Pyrus Nivalis

Traditional Chinese Name:

雪梨 (xuě lí)

 

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.

Where can I buy it and cost?

      • In most asian supermarkets, this fruit tends to be in season all year round

      • Western supermarkets will also sometimes carry this fruit
      • Be sure to buy snow pears that are firm and blemish free (if the fruit is soft and mushy, it’s likely already going bad)
      • Snow pears are relatively affordable at $3-5 HKD / pear

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 benefits?

      • Pears have 0 fat and provide a healthy intake of natural sugars

      • Pears are excellent laxatives due to their high fiber content
      • They are said to assist with the lower of cholesterol and high blood pressure
      • Pears also are the least allergenic of all fruits and is often found as a first foods for babies
      • They contain excellent amounts of copper and potassium and are packed with carbohydrates
      • Pears are also packed with Vitamin A, C and E1

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:

 

EXPLORE MORE

6 Practical Applications of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Every Day Life

6 PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE IN EVERY DAY LIFE(A TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE PERSPECTIVE)Practicing and living in Traditional Chinese Medicine concepts isn't hard!  It's actually all about what you consume, when you consume it, your...

Green radish with carrots & corn in a Chinese herbal pork broth

Soup Name: Green radish with carrots & corn in a Chinese Herbal Pork Broth Traditional Chinese Name: 紅青蘿蔔湯 (hóng qing luóbo tang) Nature:  Cooling Taste: Sweet and savory For more videos, you can follow us on YouTube.My parents came home last night from a cruise...

Hot and slightly spicy Korean Kimchi and Tofu Jjigae (soup)

Soup Name: Korean  Kimchi and Tofu Jjigae (Soup) Nature:  Cool (although could be warmer depending on how spicy you make it, but this is driven by the cooling white radish and tofu) Taste:  Sweet, Salty For more videos, you can follow us on YouTube.I know there's a...

How food flavours affect your health from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective

HOW FOOD FLAVOURS AFFECT YOUR HEALTH(A TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE PERSPECTIVE)There is a Chinese Medicine phrase that states "Food and Medicine come from the same source".   If you think about it, it totally does!  All of the ingredients found within Traditional...

Papaya and Snow Fungus in a Pork Herbal Soup

Tea Name: Papaya and Snow Fungus in a Pork Herbal Soup Chinese Name:  木瓜雪耳豬骨湯 (mù gua xuě ěr zhū gǔ tāng) Nature:  Warm and ideal for moisturizing the body and lungs, supporting digestion and soothing the stomach. Taste:  Sweet For more videos, you can follow us on...

Green radish with carrots & corn in a Chinese herbal pork broth

Soup Name: Green radish with carrots & corn in a Chinese Herbal Pork Broth Traditional Chinese Name: 紅青蘿蔔湯 (hóng qing luóbo tang) Nature:  Cooling Taste: Sweet and savory For more videos, you can follow us on YouTube.My parents came home last night from a cruise...

Hot and slightly spicy Korean Kimchi and Tofu Jjigae (soup)

Soup Name: Korean  Kimchi and Tofu Jjigae (Soup) Nature:  Cool (although could be warmer depending on how spicy you make it, but this is driven by the cooling white radish and tofu) Taste:  Sweet, Salty For more videos, you can follow us on YouTube.I know there's a...

Chinese-Styled Cream of Corn Egg Drop Soup

Tea Name: Chinese-Styled Cream of Corn and Egg Drop Soup Chinese Name:  玉米湯 (yù mǐ tāng)   Nature:  Warm Taste:  Sweet, Salty For more videos, you can follow us on YouTube.There are as many versions of a Chinese-styled corn and egg drop soup as there are likely ABC...

Oh how I love thee, my salted orange! Let me count the ways…

Tea Name: The Salted Orange Traditional Chinese Name: 鹽蒸橙子 (yán zhēng chéngzi) Nature:  warm Taste:  sweet, salty For more videos, you can follow us on YouTube.What?  Salted oranges? Let's start by saying that if you see a Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor (and even...

Healing Chinese Herbal Soup

Soup Name: Healing Chinese Herbal Soup Traditional Chinese Name: 北芪黨參消腫養陰湯 (běi qí dǎngshēn xiāo zhǒng yǎng yīn tāng) For more videos, you can follow us on YouTube.This soup is perfect for anyone who wants to replenish and strengthen blood and qi, has poor...