Pears, asian, raw

Fun Facts

1. Asian pears vary in color from golden yellow to russeted green and are often times speckled with small brown spots. Additionally Asian pears can vary in shape and size, the most commonly grown in the United States are Japanese varieties which have a round squat shape similar to that of an apple. Less commonly grown are the Chinese varieties, which have a more traditional pear shape with bulbous bottom and elongated top, similar to that of European pears.
2. Asian pears are low in calories with about 50 calories per medium sized pear. They are a good source of vitamin C with each pear containing 8% of your daily requirement and provide a fair amount of fiber, most of which is found in the skin. Fiber rich foods such as Asian pears have been show to help lower cholesterol levels and prevent colon cancer.
3. Asian pears are native to Japan and China where they have been grown for over 3000 years. The first documented appearance of an Asian pear in the United States was recorded in 1820 when a Chinese sand pear was imported to Flushing, New York.