During the dry autumn season, it is easy to get heatiness in the body, which can cause discomfort in the throat due to dehydration. Eating more pears during this time can be beneficial for throat protection. Pears are soft and juicy, with a sweet and cold nature. They have the effects of clearing heat, resolving phlegm, and generating body fluids, making them particularly effective in relieving dry throat during autumn.
Eating pears in autumn is especially suitable for conditions such as lung heat cough, pediatric wind-heat, dry throat, and constipation. It is also beneficial for people with hypertension, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Eating pears can help protect the liver, aid digestion, and increase appetite for patients with hepatitis.
There are many varieties of pears, and although they are all pears, their effects are quite different. For example, Ya pear and Snow pear have different levels of sweetness, refreshingness, and effectiveness in relieving greasiness. Snow pear has the effect of clearing heat and moistening the lungs, making it the best choice for making pear syrup with rock sugar. So be careful when choosing!
How to choose pears with different effects?
The most refreshing: Ya pear. Its flesh is tender, juicy, fragrant, and sweet. Ya pear has an inverted egg shape, with a duck head-shaped protrusion at the top. Generally, the skin of Ya pear is yellow-green, and it turns pale yellow after storage. Ya pear has lower sweetness and is refreshing and pleasant. If you want to relieve greasiness, choosing Ya pear is the right choice. The most famous ones are from Botou, Hebei and Yangxin, Shandong.
The most nourishing: Snow pear. The flesh of Snow pear is white as snow and frost, and because the pear flowers are white and flawless, resembling snowflakes, it is called Snow pear. The surface of Snow pear is relatively rough, with waxy skin. The flesh is tender and juicy, with a sweet taste. The most famous ones are from Zhaoxian, Hebei. In the dry weather of autumn and spring, buying some Snow pears and consuming them directly or making rock sugar pear syrup can clear the heart, moisturize the lungs, and relieve cough and dryness. It can be considered as a good health product.
The sweetest: Huangjin pear. "Talking about Huangjin pear, my heart is as sweet as honey." The outstanding characteristic of Huangjin pear is its sweetness. Despite its yellow-green skin, it looks unripe, but the sweetness of its flesh is unparalleled among pears. Its fruit is well-formed, and the flesh is delicate, making it the noble among pears.
The most flavorful: Nanguo pear. After picking, Nanguo pear will emit a fragrant aroma when placed indoors for 7-10 days, and the flesh will become soft and melt in the mouth, with a strong sweet and sour taste. Nanguo pear is produced in Liaoning, with Anshan and Liaoyang being the most famous places.
The most crispy: Su pear. Su pear is originally from Dangshan, Anhui, and is now the largest cultivated pear variety in China. The fruit is cylindrical, with large and numerous fruit dots on the fruit surface, yellow-green in color. Bagged fruit is yellowish-white, crispy and juicy, and can be stored for a long time. The best quality ones are produced in Xinjiang and Shanxi.
The softest: Yantai pear. Also known as Wujuxiang, Yantai pear has green-yellow skin and a shape similar to a bowling pin. The fruit becomes soft after a few days of storage, with less juice and a sweet and sour taste. It is suitable for the elderly and children to eat and cannot be stored for a long time.
The most representative of Beijing: Jingbai pear. Jingbai pear is originally from Mentougou, Beijing and has a cultivation history of more than 200 years. It is the only traditional and excellent variety originated from Beijing. When freshly picked, the skin of Jingbai pear is yellow-green, and after being placed indoors for 5-7 days, it turns yellow, and the flesh becomes soft and juicy, with a pure sweet and strong aroma. It is one of the most representative fruits of Beijing.
The most famous: Xiang pear. Xiang pear, also known as Kuerle Xiang pear, is a specialty of Xinjiang, China. The fruit is relatively small, shaped like a spindle or inverted egg. The skin is green-yellow with a red blush on the sunny side. The skin is thin, flesh is crisp, fragrant, and delicious, and it can be stored and transported well. Kuerle Xiang pear is one of the main pear varieties exported from China.
The juiciest: Yulu Xiang pear. Yulu Xiang pear is the newest pear variety developed in China. The fruit is oval-shaped, with yellow-green skin and a red blush or dark red stripes on the sunny side. The skin is extremely thin, and the fruit core is small. The flesh is white, tender, crispy, with abundant juice, and has a sweet and fragrant taste. The fruit is best when stored until New Year's Day or Spring Festival.
Taboos for eating pears in autumn
Avoid eating pears with crabs and boiling water. In the book "Yin Shan Zheng Yao," it is stated that "persimmons and pears cannot be eaten together with crabs." Pears have a slightly sour and cold taste, so ancient people said "pears are cold and harmful if eaten too much, so they are commonly known as 'quick fruits'." At the same time, there is a folk belief that eating pears and drinking boiling water can cause diarrhea. Since pears have a cold and cooling nature, and crabs also have a cold and harmful nature, eating them together can harm the intestines and stomach, so they should not be eaten together.
Diet therapy for health preservation
Pear and honey
Ingredients: 1 large white pear, 50g honey.
Method: Peel and core the pear, and fill it with honey. Steam it in a steamer and eat one in the morning and one in the evening.
Effects: It can generate body fluids, relieve cough, and resolve phlegm. It is suitable for conditions such as lung yin deficiency, chronic cough, dry throat, and hot hands and feet.
Pear juice porridge
Ingredients: 2 fresh pears, 100g rice, sugar to taste.
Method: Wash the pears, remove the skin and core, and squeeze out the juice. Boil the pear skin, pear residue, and pear seed in water to extract the juice. Add rice and cook porridge. When it is cooked, add pear juice and white sugar, boil for another minute or two, and consume once a day.
Effects: It can moisten the lungs and resolve phlegm, suitable for conditions such as lung heat cough, dry cough, and dry mouth.
Snow pear paste
Ingredients: Snow pear
Method: Take a suitable amount of fresh Snow pears and cut them into pieces. Squeeze out the juice. Cook the pear residue twice in water until the taste is gone. Combine the decoction, concentrate it with the pear juice, and double the amount of sugar. Boil it, and when it thickens, it becomes a paste. Take 10-15g each time, 2-3 times a day, and take it orally or as a drink.
Effects: It can clear lung heat, relieve thirst, and is used for conditions such as lung dryness, chronic cough, and chest pain.
Tips for small health preservation
Pears have a cold and cooling nature, so they should not be consumed excessively, as it can damage the spleen and stomach. Therefore, people with weak spleen and stomach should not eat too many pears, especially raw ones. People with weak and cold constitution, cold cough, cold abdominal pain, and blood deficiency should not eat raw pears, as it can easily damage the spleen and stomach and promote dampness.
