Expensive Pears

I have come to learn, as with many cultures, Koreans like to call certain things 'Korean'-something. Take these 'Korean Pears' for example. The Japanese call them Japanese pears. If you are Thai you call them Taiwan pears. Another example is the 'Korean Grape', which is a Concord grape.

The nashi pear, Pyrus pyrifolia, is sometimes called the Asian pear, as well as sand pear, apple pear, bapple, papple, and bae, from the Korean or li in Chinese. In India is it called nashipati and in Bangladesh and Nepal it is called nashpati. Nashi pears are widely grown for their sweet fruit, a popular food in East Asia. They are sweet on the tree and are eaten crisp.

My real reason for this post is the price. 30-bucks for seven (7) pears, over 4 dollars each. Koreans pride themselves on their pears and they are very sweet, juicy and delicious. I am not a big fan of pears but these pears are delicious. But $4.20 for a pear!

While I was in Korea I passed several pear orchards with each pear wrapped in paper to protect it from bugs and elements.