Mela Cotogna

It is possible that Cydonia and related names derive from the town of Cydon in Crete. I have already referred to the superlative quinces of Naxos, which is very near to Crete. They are also splendid grown in the mountain valleys of northern Greece. for kydóni glikó.

The cotognata mentioned in that recipe is industrially confected at Lecce, the fruit being made into a delicious paste by slow reduction and carefully packed in little wooden boxes. A similar preparation is the Catalonian codonyat. Quinces roasted whole sometimes accompany game and chicken in Catalonia. A slice or two of quince in autumn put into chicken stock gives an excellent flavour.