«Pear: A Delicious History» takes the reader on an extraordinary adventure, from the prehistoric beginnings of the pear in the Tian Shan mountains of Kazakhstan to the explosion of commercial pear cultivation in the 21st century in China. Across centuries and traversing the Earth, Sally Coulthard explores how the pear traveled along the Silk Road from Central Asia to Europe, emerging as a symbol full of eroticism in Greek mythology and poetry.

It also shows how it met the wine flowing from the gardens of Emperor Charlemagne during the early Middle Ages and enjoys the crispness of the yellow sweet variety, the first new pear variety cultivated in America in the 17th century. Coulthard discovers why, despite the existence of more than 7500 pear varieties – from the ubiquitous Granny Smith to the purple-skinned Black Diamond of Tibet – only a handful of crops are available in modern supermarkets.

Enhanced by recipes with pear flavor and the stories behind them, «Pear: A Delicious History» encompasses not only cuisine, gardening, and social and commercial history but also ancient traditions in mythology, folklore, and religion. It is the perfect gift for gardeners and nature lovers – and for anyone who enjoys a glass of wine or a slice of pear pie.

Pages: 368, Year of Publication: 1203, Dimensions: 13.5x13.5cm