There are various kinds of autumn flavors in Japan. Sanma (saury) is a popular autumn food, but it is just a part of them. You might say that the king of autumn flavor is fruit! This time, we would like to introduce Nashi, which is one of the most typical and popular Japanese fruits.

Nashi is a kind of pear, but the shape and scent are totally different from those of western pears. It looks like an apple and they generally come in two colors, pale brown and green. You can enjoy the crunchy, juicy and fresh smell of the fruit, which differs according to the varieties. “Kosui” is the most popular type of brown nashi which is big and gives off a sweet smell. “Nijyuseiki” is said to be the green nashi which represents its variety for its sweet and sour taste. In Japan, there are currently over 20 varieties of nashi available in the market and roughly 250,000 tons of nashi were produced in 2016. Chiba is the prefecture producing the largest quantity of nashis in japan, which produces 30,000 tons annually.

Nashi has a long history, which started over 2,000 years ago. According to the oldest written evidence, Emperor Jito’s order mentioned nashi in 693. In the 18th century, there were over 150 varieties of nashi!

The best season for fruits is just around the corner. Let’s enjoy Japanese fruits, which are famous and are sometimes described as jewels due to their fine quality.

 

September 5th, 2019
Edited by: Meguro International Friendship Association(MIFA)