Late summer and mid-autumn are abundantly graced by the presence of pears—an iconic fruit grown and loved worldwide—pears are said to have been sacred to two goddesses in Greek mythology, Hera and Aphrodite.
Originating in the foothills of the Tien Shan mountain range in Western China, pears, or Pyrus communis, are part of the Rosaceae plant family. Because of pear trees’ ability to withstand cold temperatures, they can be harvested year-round, and thus are now grown on nearly every continent on Earth. Because of their deliciousness and abundant medicinal properties, pears have been used as food and medicine by cultures going back thousands of years….