Snow Pear

Snow Pear

　　The Snow Pear (also known as Ivory Pear) is one of Hebei Province’s renowned local specialties, primarily grown in central and southern Hebei. Zhao County is a famous concentrated production area, hence it is called “Zhaozhou Snow Pear.” As early as ancient times, it was a tribute product offered to the imperial court and has over 2,000 years of cultivation history. The Snow Pear is also a traditionally major export fruit of Hebei Province, long enjoying an excellent reputation both at home and abroad.

　　The Snow Pear is characterized by its flesh that is as white as jade, resembling snow and frost—hence its name. The flesh is delicate, crisp, tender, juicy, and sweet, with juice sugar content ranging from 11% to 15%. It is also rich in protein, fat, fruit acids, minerals, and various vitamins. Besides being eaten fresh for its unique flavor, it can be processed into canned pears, dried pears, pear juice, and other distinctive industrial food and beverage products. The Snow Pear also holds high medicinal value, with benefits such as clearing the heart and moistening the lungs, facilitating bowel movements, relieving coughs, moistening dryness and dispelling wind, and sobering up while detoxifying. The traditional Chinese medicine “pear paste” is made by boiling Snow Pears with Chinese herbal ingredients.

　　Zhaozhou Snow Pears are sold throughout China and exported to countries such as Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, as well as to Hong Kong and Macau, earning substantial foreign exchange for the country. Zhaozhou Snow Pear has been designated as a “High-Quality Agricultural Product” by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Fisheries, and won the first prize in the national fruit quality competition in 1985. (Shijiazhuang)