The Nashi Pear, Sand Pear or Asian Pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) is a species of pear native to eastern Asia, where it is widely grown for its edible fruit. These are juicy, round pears that are shaped like apples. Because of the resemblance, they are sometimes known as "apple pears". They are a popular fruit, eaten as a thirst quencher. They are sweet on the tree and are eaten crisp.

Nashi Pear flowers are white with five petals; they flower around April. The fruit is harvested in fall and nashi may be used as an autumn kigo, or "season word", in writing haiku.

Note that in Japanese, Nashi (梨) is a generic word for all pears. European Pears (Pyrus communis) are called Yonashi (洋梨). See also the similar Ya Pear (Pyrus bretschneideri), grown in China.

Culture

In Japan, Nashi Pears are harvested in Chiba, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Nagano, Tochigi, Tottori, Yamagata, and Yamanashi prefectures. In China, Nashi Pears have been considered a popular and sacred fruit. Many popular sayings have come from the Nashi Pear. In Korean cuisine, Nashi Pears are often sliced or made into a sauce to add sweetness to its dishes.

In recent years, Nashi Pears harvested in Japan have became luxurious presents in Taiwan, and its consumption has jumped.

Nashi Pear cultivars

Important cultivars of Nashi Pear include:

• 'Cho-ju-ro' (Japan)
• 'Ho-sui' (Japan)
• 'Kikusui' (Japan)
• 'Ko-sui' (Japan; the most important cultivar in Japan)
• 'Niitaka' (Japan)
• 'Nijusseiki' (Japan; name means "20th century")
• 'Seigyoku' (Japan)
• 'Shinko' (Japan)
• 'Shinseiki' (Japan; name means "New century")
• 'Tsu Li' (China)
• 'Ya Li' (China)