Nespola Comune

The medlar is a round, walnut-sized, rusty coloured fruit, borne on an ancient plant between the end of October and the beginning of November. The fruit cannot be eaten when it is harvested but needs to be kept in a well-ventilated area to ‘rot’ for a fairly long period of time, when it matures into a sweet and juicy fruit. It can be used to make a delicious, hard gelatine or cheese like quince (see Cotogna). The medlar is not commercially grown but, like the pomegranate, it is often planted in Italian gardens for its looks.