Medlars!

My medlar tree has six medlars! That's six more than it's ever had. I planted it in 2024 and didn't expect it to bear fruit for at least four years. No, this isn't enough to make medlar jelly, but I might get enough medlar syrup for a couple of waffles or to glaze my Christmas ham. This unusual but ancient fruit is a member of the rose family, hence the fruit's resemblance to a rose hip on steroids (some people liken it to something else which is too vulgar to mention here). The fruit only becomes edible when it begins to rot. Yes, you read that right. The proper time to pick your medlars is after a few frosts when the fruit begins to go soft and mushy. Alternately, you can "blet" them indoors, storing them in a cool, dry place until they're squishy. At that point, the fruit can be eaten (the flavour is rather persimmon-like, as is the texture) or you can make jelly or syrup if you have enough. Either way, the product is very aromatic, with notes of both citrus and honey.