A Specialty Gin (and a New Orchard!) with a Fruit That's Making a Comeback

Jane Steward, author of 'Medlars – Growing & Cooking,' talks about how to grow medlar, how to cook medlar — and shares some fascinating medlar history.
How to Grow and Cook Medlar

Jane Steward, author of Medlars – Growing & Cooking, talks about how to grow medlar, how to cook medlar, and shares some fascinating medlar facts. (Find out how medlar wood was used in Dutch windmills!)

Steward planted a medlar orchard, holds the UK National Collection of medlars, and runs Eastgate Larder—a food business where she processes medlar.

We talk about:
  • How to grow medlar (Mespilus germanica)
  • How to cook medlar
  • Steward’s journey into planting a medlar orchard and starting a food-processing business 
  • How to “blet” medlar 
  • Medlar rootstock
  • Medlar fruit in Turkey and around the Caspian Sea
  • (Spoiler alert: we also hear about medlar gin and a delicious medlar chutney)
“If you want to have medlars in your life you really need to have a tree!”
A Specialty Gin (and a New Orchard!) with a Fruit That's Making a Comeback
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