How to Grow and Cook Medlar

Jane Steward, author of Medlars – Growing & Cooking, talks about how to grow medlar, how to cook medlar, and shares some fascinating medlar facts. (Find out how medlar wood was used in Dutch windmills!)

Steward planted a medlar orchard, holds the UK National Collection of medlars, and runs Eastgate Larder—a food business where she processes medlar.

We talk about:

How to grow medlar (Mespilus germanica)
How to cook medlar
Steward’s journey into planting a medlar orchard and starting a food-processing business
How to “blet” medlar
Medlar rootstock
Medlar fruit in Turkey and around the Caspian Sea
(Spoiler alert: we also hear about medlar gin and a delicious medlar chutney)