The Misso della Lessinia pear is an ancient fruit, native to Lessinia, a mountainous area of the Veneto region. It is a small pear tree, with a thin and wrinkled yellow-orange skin. The flesh is yellow, juicy and has a sweet and aromatic taste.
We are talking about a rare and precious fruit, which was in serious danger of extinction. For this reason, in 2010 it was included in the list of Slowfood Presidia, a program that aims to safeguard food biodiversity and local gastronomic traditions.
The history of the Misso Pear Tree
The origins of the Misso pear tree are ancient. It is believed that this fruit was cultivated in Lessinia as early as Roman times; Over the centuries, the Misso Pear has become an important resource for the local population: the fruits were eaten fresh, made into jams or used to prepare liqueurs.
In recent decades, the Misso pear tree has begun to be less cultivated. This is due to several factors, including the difficulty of harvesting, poor yields, and competition from other more common fruits.
Misso pear compote
Misso Pear Compote is a typical product of Lessinia. It is prepared with the fruits of the Misso Pear tree, sugar, water and lemon. The compote has a sweet and aromatic taste, with a sour aftertaste. This compote is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a number of ways. It can be enjoyed on its own, as a dessert, or used to fill cakes, tarts or crepes.
Why the Misso Pear Tree has become a Slowfood Presidium
The Misso pear tree has become a Slowfood Presidium for several reasons. First of all, it is a rare and precious fruit, which was in danger of becoming extinct. Secondly, the Misso pear is a typical product of Lessinia, which contributes to preserving food biodiversity and local gastronomic traditions.
The Slow Food Presidium has helped to breathe new life into the Misso pear tree. Thanks to this program, some abandoned Misso pear trees have been recovered and new crops have been started.
The Misso pear is an interesting and versatile fruit, which deserves to be known and appreciated; This is why we decided to include it in our recipes, trying to enhance it and make it known as much as possible.
