The white pear is a specialty in Beijing’s Mentougou district. It’s juicy and has thin skin, thick pulp, and a sweet and sour taste. It used to be served to royal families during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The fruit is round and weighs about 110 grams. The largest can be more than 200 grams. The fresh pear has a yellow green skin, which turns yellow and white after a while. Roughly 93 percent of the pear is edible. It usually matures in late August and can’t be stocked for long. It is one of the most famous traditional fruits in Beijing.

History

The pear originated from Dongshan village of the district’s Junzhuang town and dates back 400 years. There were more than 100 white pear trees in the village in 2010. The increasing popularity made more people plant the trees in neighboring areas. Empress Dowager Ci Xi of the Qing Dynasty （1644-1911）was especially fond of the white pear.