Pear: calorie content and its nutritional value, useful properties. Pears - useful properties and contraindications The benefits and harms of fruit for the human body

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Pear is a tasty and healthy seasonal fruit. The pulp of this fruit is juicy, has a delicate aroma and pleasant taste. An interesting fact - the stronger the fruit smells, the more vitamins it contains. As for the use of pears for food, they are not only eaten raw, but also dried, dried, baked, pear jam is made and compotes are cooked.

In the article, we will consider the benefits of the product, get acquainted in detail with its composition, and also find out how a pear is useful for losing weight and for athletes, find out possible harm and contraindications.

Nutritional value and calorie content of pear

The nutritional value and calorie content of a sweet seasonal pear is different and depends on the variety. The following is a table showing the most popular varieties of pears and their calorie and BJU indicators:

Julienne	Calories per 100 g	Calorie content of 1 pear (average)	BJU per 100 g
abbot	46.12 kcal	138.36 kcal	B. - 0.41 g
White	42 kcal	128 kcal	B. - 0.4 g
Williams	51.28 kcal	157 kcal	B. - 0.5 g
Packham	42 kcal	107 kcal	B. - 0.67 g
Chinese	42 kcal	103.77 kcal	B. - 0.4 g
yellow	44 kcal	111.02 kcal	B - 0.4 g
Green	42 cal	105 kcal	B. - 0.4 g
Red	42 kcal	105 kcal	B. - 0.4 g
California	42.9 kcal	107 kcal	B. - 0.4 g
Winter	42 kcal	105 kcal	B. - 0.4 g
Crystal	42 kcal	105 kcal	B. - 0.45 g
Conference	48.33 kcal	120.82 kcal	B. - 0.73 g
Lucas	43.67 kcal	109.18 kcal	B. - 0.4 g

The data in the table indicate that fruits have different calorie content depending on the variety, however, the energy value of the product is in any case low and will not harm the figure.

But we do not always eat fresh pear. Mankind has come up with many ways to prepare this product, and after a certain processing, the calorie content of the fruit often changes.

1. A dried pear already contains 201 kcal per 100 g, while its nutritional value also changes significantly: proteins - 2.3 g, fats - 0 g, carbohydrates - 49 g. The carbohydrate index almost doubles compared to fresh fruit.
2. A baked pear contains 179.8 kcal. The nutritional value of the product per 100 g remains practically unchanged after baking and remains the same as that of a fresh fruit.
3. Dried pear contains 249 kcal - and this is one of the highest rates for this fruit. At the same time, the nutritional value does not change much: proteins - 2.3 g, fats - 0.6 g, carbohydrates - 62.6 g.
4. Canned (rolling) pears contain slightly more calories than fresh fruit - 65 kcal per 100 g. However, these figures may vary depending on what exactly is prepared from the fruit and how much sugar is added.

The calorie content of a fruit without a peel has its own differences, for example, 100 g of peeled pulp contains only 32 kcal, and a medium-sized whole pear contains 48 kcal. But these indicators can also be different: as we mentioned earlier, it all depends on the variety.

Pears are especially exciting for people with diabetes. Despite the high content of carbohydrates, GI (glycemic index) is low and is 34 units. But dried pears should not be consumed by diabetics, since their GI is 82 units.

As for pear juice, 100 g of freshly squeezed liquid contains 46 kcal. When choosing store-bought drinks, keep in mind that they contain a lot of preservatives and sugar, and this significantly increases the energy value of the product.

The chemical composition of the fruit

The great benefit of pears for the body is possible only due to their rich chemical composition. The fruits contain fructose, glucose, sucrose, organic acids and many useful micro and macro elements.

Some varieties of pears contain ascorbic acid in the amount of 3-17 mg. Unripe fruits contain the highest amount of flavonoids (special plant substances that have a positive effect on the body by stimulating the activity of enzymes). Flavonoids are found only in plant foods, and the pear is one of them. Ripe fruit is 97% pulp, the rest is seeds and peel. 100 g of fruit contains 85 g of water.

Due to dietary fiber, the absorption of fructose in the stomach slows down, which is a definite plus for diabetics and overweight people. There is also a lot of fiber in the pear, which has a positive effect on the digestive tract.

The chemical composition is rich, diverse and able to provide a person with most of the daily intake of vitamins and other useful substances.

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The benefits of pears for humans

Such a useful fruit as a pear has been used for many centuries to treat and prevent many diseases.

If you eat this seasonal sweet fruit regularly

• you will improve the functioning of the immune system;
• get rid of inflammatory processes;
• normalize the work of the digestive tract;
• regulate metabolism;
• improve kidney and liver function.

And this is not all the useful properties of the product. Due to the high content of ascorbic acid, pear not only improves immunity, but also strengthens blood vessels. The fruit is used to prevent atherosclerosis, as it removes cholesterol from the body.

It is also useful for people with gallstone disease to consume a pear, as it is rich in dietary fiber. For medicinal purposes, you can use not only fruits, but also a decoction of dried pears: this drink will help the gallbladder to work.

Those who have problems with hair, and nails exfoliate and break, you need to eat fruit daily.

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Benefit in diseases

Due to the high amount of potassium, the pear is useful for people with problems of the cardiovascular system. Moreover, you can eat fruit both fresh, and dried, and dried. Compotes, juices and fruit drinks from this fruit will also be useful.

Pears also help with urolithiasis. With cystitis, it is necessary to drink pear broth or fruit compote. The drink will relieve pain, increase the amount of urine due to the diuretic effect.

Just 100 g of pear per day helps to raise hemoglobin and get rid of edema, which makes the product useful for people who want to lose weight.

Since the pear has a low glycemic index, this product can be introduced into the diet of diabetics. Not only fruit, but also juice is useful. If you dilute the drink in equal proportions with water, it will lower blood sugar levels. However, only freshly squeezed juice will be useful.

Important! In severe forms of diabetes, it is better to refuse a pear in any quantity. Be sure to check with your doctor before eating fruit.

Features of varieties

As for pear varieties, absolutely everything is useful: “Chinese”, “Crystal”, “Duchess”, but the Conference variety is considered the most useful. It contains the largest amount of all nutrients, organic acids and dietary fiber. Due to its properties, the pear has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the intestines.

But the Duchess variety contains the antibacterial component arbutin, which destroys pathogenic bacteria in the human body. Doctors recommend drinking a decoction of this variety of pears with a strong cough and with problems of the respiratory system.

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No less useful is the wild pear (wild pear). It is recommended for people with tuberculosis. This fruit relieves a severe cough.

Williams pears are among the lowest in calories and do not cause allergies. This variety is recommended for people with weakened immunity, these fruits are especially useful in baked form.

Pears are allowed for people with gastritis only during periods of remission. Thanks to the astringent components contained in tannins, the inflammatory process is stopped. But smoked pears are better to exclude from the diet

Pear branch tea, or "youth elixir" as it is also called, improves overall health and gives the body a boost of energy. Such a drink is drunk in courses for six months, which allows the body to cleanse itself, relieve inflammation in the joints, improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and normalize blood pressure. It is also recommended to drink the drink at a high temperature.

Pear branches can be cut at any time of the year, but it is better to do this in the spring. For a healing drink, any variety of pears is suitable, the main thing is to cut off the upper part of the branch - it is softer. Store such a blank in glass jars.

But pear leaves, if you make a decoction of them, will help cure fungus and dermatitis.

Benefits for women and men

Pears are beneficial for both women and men. First, let's take a closer look at the benefits of this fruit for the stronger sex. Men do not often use such fruits - and completely in vain.

It is the stronger sex that is more prone to baldness, many of them are very complex because of this. To save hair, it is recommended to make a pear mask, which also includes burdock oil, honey and essential oils.

Also, a pear brings undoubted benefits to men who have problems with potency. To solve this problem, it is enough to eat 2-3 fruits a day. This fruit restores strength after hard work or strength training.

The benefits of pears for women during periods of menstruation are invaluable: the fruit reduces pain, improves mood, and increases efficiency. The weaker sex is more prone to diseases of the genitourinary system, therefore, during periods of exacerbation, it is recommended to drink decoctions based on pears.

Pear is widely used in cosmetology. Various masks, creams and shampoos based on this fruit make the skin, hair and nails beautiful and well-groomed.

But most of all, pears are loved for their low calorie content and the ability to use them in dietary nutrition.

The benefits of pears for weight loss

A low-calorie pear rich in various biologically active substances is especially useful during weight loss.

On average, if you eat at least one pear a day, you can throw off 450 g each. It seems impossible, but it's true. The arguments are as follows:

1. The high fiber content in pears makes you feel full, which helps control your appetite. Fiber regulates the digestive tract and helps to better absorb vitamins and minerals.
2. The juicy fruit contains a lot of fructose, which fills the human body with energy.
3. Pears are a low-calorie fruit.
4. The pulp of the fruit contains antioxidants that remove not only toxins, but also cholesterol.

However, not all so simple. To achieve positive results, using a pear for weight loss, you must adhere to some rules:

• with a sharp feeling of hunger, eat a pear;
• drink pear juice (freshly squeezed) for breakfast and snacks;
• eat fruit before training (fruit is especially useful before heavy loads);
• replace dinner with a baked pear (such a snack at night will give a feeling of fullness, but at the same time will not add extra calories).

How a pear is useful for athletes, we will consider further.

Pear in sports nutrition

The pear contains zinc, and it is this element that is responsible for the synthesis of testosterone, which men need for training. Zinc is also involved in the synthesis of growth hormones, which has a positive effect on muscle mass.

Which is contained in the fruit, is also necessary for athletes, since it has a beneficial effect on digestion and metabolic processes. At the same time, there are no fats in the pear that could contribute to the formation of excess adipose tissue.

The harm of fruit to the human body

Despite the extensive beneficial properties of pears, in some cases, the fruit can be harmful. Let us consider in more detail some contraindications to the use of fruit.

So, pears should not be consumed

• during periods of exacerbation of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• with a peel on an empty stomach (the peel is even better to clean, as it can absorb hazardous substances);
• never drink water after a pear, as this can cause heartburn;
• do not eat green fruits, they can lead to constipation or indigestion.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the dangers of a smoked product. Pears prepared in this way can be dangerous not only for people with an ulcer or gastritis, but also for a completely healthy person. When smoked, carcinogens are formed in the product, which increase the risk of cancer.

When buying, pay attention to the peel of the fruit: if it is sticky, refuse to buy such a fruit. With a high probability, the peel of the pear has been treated with diphenol, a substance that prevents rotting and keeps the fruit longer. This compound is hazardous to human health. If you have already bought such a product, rinse it well in hot water and rub it with a brush. It is even better not to eat such a fruit with a peel.

As for the harm of a pear after heat treatment, everything is ambiguous here. On the one hand, this fruit helps with coughing, and on the other hand, after baking, some of the nutrients are lost.

You should also be careful with dried pears, as they contain a lot of sugar. The product is not suitable for people who are on a diet. It is also undesirable to eat a dried pear along with dairy products, as this can lead to indigestion and flatulence.

But dried pears of the "Conference" and "Chinese" varieties, as well as compote from this fruit, are allowed to be consumed by everyone. However, you should make sure that you are not allergic to such products. And for people with diabetes, it is better to refrain from eating dried pears, as they contain more sugar.

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Results

Pear is a unique fruit rich in vitamins and minerals. When used correctly, it is able to improve the functioning of the immune system, strengthen the walls of blood vessels, regulate the functioning of the kidneys and liver, and alleviate the condition of urolithiasis. Due to the high content of potassium, the fruit is good for the cardiovascular system.

Pear is one of the few fruits that can be consumed on a diet, and for athletes, this fruit will be an excellent natural energy booster.

Pear - tree that belongs to the family pink, with elongated or spherical fruits. Some researchers call Persia the birthplace of the pear, others - Armenia. The wild pear was known even to primitive man. The ancient Greeks first began to cultivate the plant. In Russia, pear began to be grown in the 12th century.

Pear varieties

There are 33 species and 190 varieties of pears in the world. Among the most famous varieties are the following:

Nutritional value, calorie content and composition of the pear

Pear is one of the low calorie fruits. 100 g of its pulp contains 47 kcal, and a medium-sized fruit contains about 64.

Nutritional value of 100 g of pear:

• 10.3 g carbohydrates;
• 85 g of water;
• 0.4 g of proteins;
• 0.3 g fat.

The composition of the pear (in 100 g):

Vitamins:

• 5 mg vitamin C (ascorbic acid);
• 0.4 mg vitamin E (tocopherol);
• 0.1 mg of vitamin PP (nicotinic acid);
• 2 micrograms of vitamin B9 (folic acid);
• 0.03 mg vitamin B2 (riboflavin);
• 0.02 mg vitamin B1 (thiamine);
• 0.03 mg vitamin B6 (pyridoxine);
• 0.05 mg vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid);
• 0.01 mg beta-carotene;
• 2 micrograms of vitamin A (retinol);
• 4.5 micrograms of vitamin K (phylloquinone);
• 0.1 mcg of vitamin H (biotin).

Minerals:

• 155 mg potassium;
• 19 mg calcium;
• 2.3 mg iron;
• 16 mg phosphorus;
• 1 mcg of iodine;
• 130 mcg boron;
• 120 mcg copper;
• 0.1 µg selenium;
• 14 mg sodium;
• 12 mg magnesium;
• 10 micrograms of fluoride.

The benefits and harms of pears

Useful properties of pears:

1. Pear accelerates metabolic processes in the body, so it is recommended for overweight people.
2. Fruits strengthen the immune system and activate the body's defenses.
3. Eating pear helps to strengthen nails, hair growth and improve skin condition.
4. The pear has a diuretic effect, so it is useful for people who have kidney problems and swelling.
5. The pear is able to lower the pressure.
6. Fruits normalize bowel function and have a laxative effect.
7. A decoction of dried fruits and pear leaves is recommended to drink with bronchitis.

What harm can a pear cause to an organism?

1. Pears should be used with caution in case of peptic ulcer and gastritis.
2. It is recommended to eat fruits 2 hours after the main meal.
3. If you eat pears with meat dishes or drink them with a lot of water, indigestion may occur.

Pear in the diet of pregnant and lactating women, children, diabetics and athletes

Pregnant women can include pears in their diet. Folic acid, which is part of pears, has a beneficial effect on the development of the fetus. In addition, the pear will help get rid of edema and maintain normal hemoglobin. But, with imported pears that are processed with chemicals, it is better to remove the peel first.

Useful pear and nursing mothers . Due to its light color, it does not cause allergies. In addition, the fruits will help in solving the problem of constipation.

children a pear begins to be given from 5 months, immediately after an apple. First, juice and puree are recommended, and then peeled fresh fruits.

For diabetics pear is also useful, as it is able to reduce blood sugar levels. In addition, for medicinal purposes, patients can drink freshly squeezed pear juice half an hour before meals, diluted in half with water.

Athletes pears are also indicated as they are able to relieve muscle soreness that often occurs after intense workouts.

How to choose, collect, consume and store a pear?

1. Depending on the variety, pears ripen from mid-August to mid-October. Collect them gradually, starting from the top of the crown.
2. When choosing a pear in a store or on the market, first of all, you need to pay attention to their aroma. If the fruit does not have a characteristic odor, it is stored for a very long time.
3. Some varieties of late pear can be stored in a cool, dry place for more than a month.
4. For long-term storage, the pear is best dried. Small-fruited varieties are well suited for this purpose.
5. The pear does not go well with many foods, so it is recommended to use it as a separate dish.

What dishes can be cooked with pears?

Pear in the diet

To reduce weight, you can use the pear diet, designed for 1 week. This diet involves the daily use of 2-5 ripe pears in combination with low-calorie foods. The daily menu for a pear diet will look like this:

Option 1:

• Breakfast: 2 pears, 50 grams of black bread, 100 g of yogurt or 200 g of kefir.
• Dinner: 50 g boiled rice or buckwheat without salt, 100 g chicken breast fillet.
• Dinner:

Option 2:

• Breakfast: 1 pear, 2 cereal loaves.
• Dinner: 3 pears, a sandwich with black bread and cheese.
• Dinner: 2 pears, a glass of green tea without sugar (not earlier than in half an hour).

Option 3:

• Breakfast: 50 g of boiled rice poured buckwheat, 100 g of lean beef.
• Dinner: 2 hard-boiled eggs, 2 pears, carrot salad with olive oil or sour cream.
• Dinner: 2 pears, a glass of green tea without sugar (not earlier than in half an hour).

Pear is the name of a tree or shrub and the fruit of the same name. The pear is one of the oldest fruit trees cultivated by mankind. The first mention of the pear dates back to ancient history - it was grown in China, then it first came to Persia, from where to Greece and the Roman Empire. There are now thousands of varieties of pears that are cultivated in most warm and temperate areas around the world.

Pear- This is a medium-sized fruit, its shape resembling a light bulb, although there are varieties with a rounded shape. The pulp of a ripe pear is tender and juicy, with a characteristic aroma (the stronger the aroma emitted by the fruit, the more vitamins and other useful substances it contains) and a sweet taste. Pears, in addition to fresh consumption, have dozens of cooking methods: they are dried, baked, canned, juices and compotes are made from them, jam is made, jams and marmalade are obtained.

Chemical compositionpears

The table shows the average values ​​(nutrients, vitamins, trace elements) based on 100 grams of product.

Pear beneficial properties for the human body

One of the most important properties of the pear is that it is a "natural antibiotic":

Pears are used as an antimicrobial agent, the fruits of which create an unfavorable environment for pathogenic bacteria. The fruits of pears contain organic acids, which, together with hydrochloric acid of gastric juice, acidify the food in the stomach. Pectin and tannins, found in pears in large quantities, deprive these bacteria of mobility.
The fruits contain the antibiotic arbutin, which kills microbes. The antimicrobial action of pears affects the intestinal flora and microbes that cause inflammation of the kidneys and bladder. It is important to note that wild pear is more effective as a bactericidal agent.

In case of fever, a pear decoction of pears is used to lower the temperature.

Due to the presence of complex essential oils in it, pear juice is a good diuretic.

Boiled and baked pears are used as an antitussive for bronchitis and pulmonary tuberculosis.

Pear broth is given to drink to febrile patients, it quenches thirst and promotes urination. The diuretic effect of the decoction is explained by the fact that it contains the same substances as in the leaves of the bearberry ("bear ears") - arbutin glycoside.
This decoction is effective both in urolithiasis and in inflammatory processes of the urinary tract.

Pear juice and decoctions have an antibacterial effect, contribute to the enlightenment of infected urine and the removal of toxins from the body.

In diseases of the circulatory system, pears are used as a means to strengthen capillaries. Pear juice contains many substances with P-vitamin activity, and vitamin P reduces the increased permeability of blood vessel walls.

With liver diseases, cholecystitis, gastritis, two pears eaten in the morning will relieve pain and heartburn, and eliminate discomfort in the intestines.

In the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, ripe pears, due to the content of tannins in them, are effectively used as a fixing agent. Some varieties contain up to 20% tannins. For the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines, the combination of tannins and pectin is a protective agent.

Pears are especially helpful in the treatment of dyspepsia in children. Pear jelly and compotes have an astringent effect. It is also recommended to boil dried pears and use them with oatmeal broth.

Pears have tonic properties. They calm the heartbeat, improve mood, relieve stress.

With obesity, diabetes, diseases of the kidneys, liver and biliary tract, with urolithiasis and cystitis, fresh and dry pears are included in the diet. Their fruits have a low energy value, they contain about 84% water, so they can be used in a restrictive diet.

Pears have been used in folk medicine for thousands of years to treat prostatitis. Already a few days after the use of pear compote in this disease, a striking effect occurs, and its long-term use leads to a cure.
And if a man is already over 50 years old, then it is necessary to prepare a dried wild pear for the winter in order to drink compote and pear tea until spring. This is not only a treatment, but also a prevention of the disease.

Since pears have a low energy value, they are recommended in various diets.

Pear - contraindications

It is worth considering that a pear can be harmful. So it is not recommended to use pears for people with intestinal disorders, as well as on an empty stomach or immediately after eating; do not drink pears with water or eat dense food.

Of the sugars, pear fruits include monosaccharides - glucose and fructose and a disaccharide - sucrose, fructose predominates quantitatively - the simplest, sweetest and most digestible sugar.

The fruits of wild-growing pears contain a smaller amount of sugars compared to cultivated ones. However, some varieties of them, growing in the southern regions, are characterized by a fairly high sugar content.

Starch is found in appreciable amounts in unripe fruits; as the pears ripen, it is saccharified (turned into sugar).

The granules (stony cells) contained in pear fruits are lignified fiber (cellulose); these lignified cells include lignocellulose, which mainly consists of pure cellulose and lignin. As pears are stored, the cells of many fruits become dewooded, and they become more tasty.

Organic acids in fruits are represented by malic and citric acids.

The fruits of wild pears are characterized by relatively high acidity; the acidity of wild pears is usually several times higher than the acidity of cultivars. The increased acidity of wild pears sometimes has some positive value in the technical processing of fruits.

In addition to sugars and organic acids, the taste of fruits is largely determined by tannins and essential oils (aromatic substances) that make up their composition.

Pear fruits contain a smaller amount of pectin than wild apple fruits, which is of some importance in the fruit-cooking industry.

The pectic substances of pears are represented by protopectin (insoluble pectin), which is predominant in the cell walls of the fetus, and soluble pectin, which is mainly found in cell sap. As the fruits ripen, the insoluble pectin (protopectin) becomes soluble and the fruits become softer.

Pear fruit pectin has less gelling power than wild apples.

The nitrogenous substances of pear fruits are represented by proteins, amide, ammonia compounds.

The largest amount of tannins is found in the skin of the fruit.

In fruit and berry winemaking, an increased content of tannins is desirable. The juices of wild pears can be used to make wines with greater success than the juices of many cultivars. But for drying and some other methods of processing (preservation), a significant content of tannins in fruits is highly undesirable, since dark-colored products are quickly formed under the influence of oxidizing enzymes on the surface of fruits after cutting and cleaning.

Pear fruits contain oxidative (oxidase), hydrolytic (invertase, pectase) and other enzymes. They also found a glucoside (yellowish-red glucose) found in lignified stony cells.

Minerals. fruits are represented by various elements - potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sulfur, boron and others; traces of iodine were found in fresh fruits. The alkalinity of ash in some pear fruits is quite high, which is positively regarded in nutrition.

Of the vitamins, pear fruits include vitamin C, carotene (provitamin A) and vitamin B 1.

Vitamin C fruits of wild-growing pears contain more than cultivated varieties.

According to Gorskaya, pear fruits contain the following amount of vitamin C.

Separate parts of the fruit contain different amounts of vitamin C. For example, in the peripheral part of the fruit of a wild pear it is 26.8, and in the core 17.55 mg%, respectively, in the cultivar Blue Armud - 6.05 and 3.50 mg%.

Separate parts of the fruit also have a different chemical composition. A valuable part of the fruit is the pulp, which contains a significant amount of sugars. The peel of the fruit contains an increased amount of fiber, less sugar than the pulp, but is richer in vitamins, aromatic and waxy substances.

Pear seeds are rich in fatty oils and proteins (fatty oil content in seeds reaches over 35%).

Pasteurized fruits of wild pear from the Kropotkin region of the Krasnodar Territory, according to N. V. Saburov and V. S. Grzhivo, contain the following amount of chemicals (in%): water 72.91, acidity (for malic acid) 1.28, pH juice 3.44, sugar 7.64, tannins and dyes 0.29, nitrogenous substances 1.45, pectin (Ca-pectate) 0.50, fiber 6.02, ash 0.76. The fruits of the Ussuri pear contain 82% water, 9-10% sugars, their acidity is 1-1.5%.

Wild pear usually contains an increased percentage of tannins, which is why a significant number of its varieties and forms have a characteristic astringent, tart taste. Therefore, most fresh fruits immediately after picking usually do not find use.

However, not all varieties have a high astringency; some fruits contain a very small amount of tannins and organic acids with a fairly high sugar content. Such fruits have a high degree of sweetness; they have a high sugar to acid ratio.

As noted, many varieties of wild pears contain stony cells in the fruit pulp, which are lignified fiber. There are fruits that have a bitter taste.

During "aging" - storage, the fruits change color (darken); sharp astringent aftertaste and high acidity disappear. Fruit darkening during storage is observed in many wild varieties of pears.

The fruits of wild pears after maturation not only reduce astringency, but also become sweeter. Some fruits have a characteristic taste "with kvask". This is due to the fact that in pears part of the starch passes into sugar; acidity drops; the percentage of tannins decreases, and the fruits become more tasty; at the same time, a number of other significant biochemical changes occur.

From a technological point of view, pear fruits are significantly inferior to sour apples (as raw materials for processing), but, compared to many other wild fruits, they tolerate transportation better.

Of the group of wild-growing pome fruits, the wild pear in the North Caucasus and Transcaucasia is the most widespread of all regions of the Soviet Union.

In the Caucasus, one can often find almost continuous pure arrays of wild pear, called "pear trees". Several varieties of wild pears grow here, which give a very significant number of different forms.

Their fruits vary greatly not only in appearance (fruit size, color, etc.), but also in chemical composition and properties (sugar content, acidity, storage capacity, etc.).

Especially valuable in quality, pear fruits grow in mountainous regions - from here fruits are larger in size, with a lower content of stony lignified cells and with a large amount of sugars.

On dry land, fruits, on the contrary, contain a large number of stony cells, fewer sugars and are smaller in size. In fresh form, such fruits are usually not consumed due to their low taste.

The yield of wild forest pears is extremely variable; a fruit-bearing tree in good conditions (with free growth) can produce up to 1 ton of fruits, under unfavorable conditions (thickening, etc.) - 12-18 kg.

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Known to people for a very long time, but they were not always popular. Scientists have different views on the origin of this fruit tree, but it is believed that it appeared about 3,000 years ago or earlier.

According to one version, pear began to grow in China, because in the works of ancient Chinese poets there are references to it. Another version says that pear domesticated by the ancient Greeks, gradually selecting the largest and sweetest fruits.

Homer wrote about the miraculous properties of pears in his Odyssey., and ancient Greek and Roman goddesses were often depicted with pear fruits in their hands. However, in those days it was often believed that raw pears are very harmful, and only cooked fruits can be eaten.

The Hindus considered the pear tree to be animated, and perhaps they were not mistaken in this. In Europe, interest in these trees appeared only in the 17th-18th centuries: they began to breed new varieties - for example, oily pears, the fruits of which taste like butter.

Today, there are almost no countries in the world where this fruit tree would not be grown: of all the pome species, it ranks first in the world in terms of area, and it is from these trees that most fruits are harvested.

In Russia pears always loved, and knew about their healing properties: even in ancient medical books they wrote that these fruits give strength and improve digestion. Already in the 15th century, pears grew in Moscow - in the gardens opposite the Kremlin, and after another 100 years, many foreigners were surprised at the fertility and splendor of these gardens.

Currently, about 5 thousand varieties of pears are known in the world. They differ in taste, shape, size and color, as well as the ripening time of the fruit.

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