1 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:10,799 Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to Savor production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:13,960 Speaker 1: I'm Annie Reese and I'm Larn Bogelbaum, and today we 3 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:19,960 Speaker 1: have an episode for you about pairs. Yes, it was 4 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:24,600 Speaker 1: kind of a beast to wrangle everybody. It seriously was 5 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: like I thought, I chose this topic because I thought 6 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: it was going to be, if nothing else, straightforward, um 7 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 1: and not too much of a bear, not too much 8 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:38,159 Speaker 1: of a bear of a pear. Uh. And heck I 9 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:42,519 Speaker 1: was wrong. I was quite incorrect. Yep. People have a 10 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 1: lot to say about payers, and they like to really 11 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 1: play it on thick when it comes to the language. Yeah, 12 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 1: Oh my goodness, I'm impressed. Yeah. Yeah, um, we were 13 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 1: saying before we started recording. I don't know why we 14 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:04,320 Speaker 1: bothered to do that. We should probably just get record um. 15 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: But yeah, it's like, not since asparagus have I read 16 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 1: so many things so intense about uh produce. M you're 17 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: only going to get a handful in here. There's so 18 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,840 Speaker 1: much out there. Yeah, these are just the ones that 19 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 1: stuck with us. Yes, I had to make some choices, 20 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: like we can't just have this whole thing, can't just 21 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: be poems about pairs that I like. Unfortunately, yeah. Oh 22 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 1: my gosh, Savor side podcast and it's just food poetry. 23 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 1: I'm into it, yes, right, okay, okay, alright, I'm making 24 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:51,960 Speaker 1: a plan for a next side dish. Yeah. Fun, that 25 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 1: would be so fun. Okay. So one of the things 26 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 1: that I was surprised by is I I love a pair. 27 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 1: I love a good pair, but I definitely did not 28 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 1: have one until high school college. What wow. Yeah even now, 29 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 1: like I love them, but I very rarely have one. 30 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 1: Um okay, it's just kind of a I don't know. 31 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 1: They weren't a part of my household. I had a 32 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:21,360 Speaker 1: friend who was from Taiwan and she gave me um 33 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 1: every Christmas. She would give me an Asian pair, but 34 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 1: it was kind of that level of like they weren't 35 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:32,079 Speaker 1: big in my house, so I have to go out 36 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: of my way to get a pair. Interesting. I definitely 37 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 1: grew up with them, like in my school lunches and 38 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 1: stuff and um uh. I think my grandmother introduced me 39 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 1: to Asian style pairs when I was maybe in middle 40 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: school or high school. And and I love them, I 41 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 1: am I very I don't buy them very often because 42 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 1: I feel like I'm I'm bad at at finding that 43 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 1: window they're right, and when they're not right, I'm mad 44 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 1: about it. So and I know myself, I know that 45 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 1: I'm gonna like forget it. I'm gonna think about it 46 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:13,079 Speaker 1: when I first buy it and it's not ready, and 47 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:14,639 Speaker 1: then I'm going to forget about it until it's a 48 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:17,799 Speaker 1: way gone. So yeah, I just don't. I just don't. 49 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 1: I'm like, how about some more cherry tomatoes. Let's let's 50 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:25,520 Speaker 1: be realistic. It's a skill. It's a skill, for sure. 51 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 1: A pair can mislead you, A pair can mislead you. 52 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 1: A quote of the episode, well, I guess this brings 53 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: us too hawk questions. Sure, pairs, what are they? Well, 54 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 1: Pears are a type of fruit that grows on trees 55 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 1: to about palm sized or so, like a like a 56 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 1: good size to fit in your palm. Yeah, with a 57 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 1: very very thin edible skin. Uh. There are two basic 58 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: varieties of pairs that are rounder and we'll be crisp 59 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: and crunch when they're ripe, and pears that are more 60 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 1: elongated with a tapering neck that will be soft and 61 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 1: buttery when they're ripe. Both types tend to be shades 62 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 1: of gold on the outside and creamy white on the inside. 63 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:16,480 Speaker 1: Very fragrant and a lot of like perfumey, floral or 64 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 1: even musky flavors. In addition to the baseline sweetness and brightness, 65 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:24,039 Speaker 1: um both tend to be very juicy and can be 66 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:29,120 Speaker 1: a little bit grainy or sandy in texture. Uh. They're like, um, 67 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:32,360 Speaker 1: and I'm so sorry I'm leaning into it. Uh. They're 68 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:36,600 Speaker 1: like a boudoir apple, all right. They're like maybe a 69 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 1: little bit old fashioned, but like sweet and delicate and 70 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:46,720 Speaker 1: and perfumed and succulent. I love this. I love this because, 71 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 1: as we're going to discuss, there is also a lot 72 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:50,960 Speaker 1: of pear art and now I'm just seeing like a 73 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 1: bedroom scene with the like on the jair racy pear. 74 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, I bet it exists. I've that does positive? 75 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 1: Uh um well. Uh. Pears comprise the genus Pyrus with 76 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 1: a few different species delineated um at least four of 77 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 1: the firm round types that are also called Asian pears 78 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:23,479 Speaker 1: um and at least one of the oblong type that 79 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:27,600 Speaker 1: are also called European pears, Although there are lots of 80 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 1: varieties within those species, Lots and lots um pairs are 81 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 1: in the rosassier or rose family, along with things like plums, quinces, almonds, 82 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 1: and yes, apples, pears do grow on trees. Those trees 83 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 1: will reach about thirty feet in height near about ten meters. Though. 84 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: Farmers will graft the type of fruiting tree that they 85 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 1: want onto the type of root stock uh for for 86 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 1: the sort of growth that they want in terms of 87 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 1: height and hardiness, stuff like that. It's generally a temperate 88 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 1: climate tree. Uh. They will bloom every year with really 89 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 1: pretty white flowers with these long filaments in the center 90 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:11,159 Speaker 1: little bits of pink and yellow, and the flowers tend 91 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 1: to be super fragrant when they're pollinated from a different tree. 92 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:16,600 Speaker 1: And yes, you need two trees to make it work. 93 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 1: They will develop fruit that will grow to the size 94 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 1: of like a small, smallish fist usually. Uh. Their skin 95 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 1: can be smooth or rough and will be green when 96 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:29,920 Speaker 1: they're immature in any shade from green to gold to 97 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 1: to tan or brownish or even blushed when they are mature, 98 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:41,200 Speaker 1: and they can brown super quickly when they're overripe. Oh. Yeah. 99 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 1: There are some species of pear that will flower but 100 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:48,919 Speaker 1: do not bear edible fruit, like the Bradford pear, which 101 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:53,040 Speaker 1: are generally bad for several reasons and should be removed 102 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 1: from from nature. They should just we should get them 103 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:59,120 Speaker 1: out of there. Like they do not serve a use 104 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:03,839 Speaker 1: they they in fact will They're structurally unsound, the Bradford 105 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 1: pair in particular, and they will cross pollinate with like 106 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 1: a lot of other trees and just muck up the 107 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 1: genetics of everything involved. Also they smell bad. Um so 108 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 1: strong opinions, strong opinions. Bradford, many people, most gardens. Most 109 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 1: gardeners do like like one of the like one of 110 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 1: the like like like gardening tricks. Um. If you want 111 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 1: to find out if a gardening center near you is 112 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 1: of an appropriate quality, you can go and be like, ah, hey, 113 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 1: do you have any Bradford pairs? And if they say yes, 114 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 1: just leave wow okay, which which seems rude to me, 115 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 1: but but I've seen this suggested good day. Leave. You 116 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: can leave politely, yeah yeah, yeah right. You don't have 117 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 1: to like bite your thumb at them on your way out. Anyway. 118 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 1: We're ostensibly a food show. Um Pears are often eaten 119 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 1: fresh alone or in sweet or savory dishes, sliced into salads, 120 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 1: baked into pies or quick breads, poached or roasted. Uh. 121 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 1: The oblong and soft types of pears are picked and 122 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 1: typically sold when they're mature but still unripe, meaning, as 123 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 1: we were talking about earlier, you've got to let them 124 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 1: ripe in before you eat them. And I am not 125 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 1: the only human who has trouble with this. Knowing when 126 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:39,680 Speaker 1: they are good to go can be tricky for other 127 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 1: humans as well. Um, but for most varieties, if you 128 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:48,080 Speaker 1: apply gentle pressure to the neck of the fruit, uh, 129 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:52,959 Speaker 1: it'll give a little when it's ready to eat. Okay, Yeah, 130 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:57,079 Speaker 1: don't like squish it, but just kind of boop it. Yeah, 131 00:08:57,320 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 1: right solid yeah um. And you can pop a pear 132 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 1: in the fridge to either put that off or or 133 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:08,679 Speaker 1: hold them there once they arrive. Yeah. Pairs are also 134 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:11,960 Speaker 1: preserved by drying or canning. When they're canned, they tend 135 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:14,720 Speaker 1: to be really soft because they're they're cooked basically during 136 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: the production process. They can also be pud and made 137 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:21,040 Speaker 1: into a sauce or spread like pear butter or preserves 138 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:23,760 Speaker 1: or jam. They've got a bunch of pectin, so they 139 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 1: lend themselves to that kind of thing. They can also 140 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 1: be juiced and or purred and made into cider, alcoholic 141 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 1: or non perry is a specific type of pear cider 142 00:09:33,880 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 1: that's going to need to be a whole other episode. Indeed, 143 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 1: I started and then stopped. I was like, Nope, not today. 144 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:46,080 Speaker 1: Perry Uh also used to produce wines and brandy, and 145 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 1: some varieties of pair brandy feature a whole pair inside 146 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 1: the bottle. I don't know if you've seen this, but 147 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:54,400 Speaker 1: it looks sort of like a ship in a bottle 148 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:56,960 Speaker 1: because it seems just impossible that it could have passed, 149 00:09:57,040 --> 00:10:00,440 Speaker 1: that it could have gotten there. Um. And the way 150 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 1: that they get the pair in the bottle is by 151 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:06,000 Speaker 1: literally growing it in the bottle, like when the fruit 152 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:09,199 Speaker 1: just begins developing from a pollinated flower. They stick a 153 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:10,679 Speaker 1: bottle on the tip of the branch and tie it 154 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:17,200 Speaker 1: in place. Wow, I loved us. That's cool. That's pretty cool. 155 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 1: Also whole other episode. Yes, I can't wait for that one. Um. Well, 156 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 1: what about the nutrition by itself? A pair is like 157 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:29,199 Speaker 1: a little on the sugary side, but pretty good for you. 158 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 1: You know, lots of fiber, lots of micronutrients, so it 159 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:33,640 Speaker 1: will help fill you up like a little bit, but 160 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:36,360 Speaker 1: has no fat or protein to speak of. So pair 161 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 1: it with those two keep you going um, and they 162 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:44,000 Speaker 1: do contain a lot of fermentable fruittoast sugars, so maybe 163 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 1: avoid them if you're looking to lower your food maps maps. 164 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:54,720 Speaker 1: I never know how to say it neither. Yeah that thing, yeah, yes, 165 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:59,839 Speaker 1: that thing. Um. Well, we do have some pair and 166 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: members for you, we do. Um. There are around three 167 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 1: thousand recognized varieties of pairs around the world. A lot, yeah, 168 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:14,280 Speaker 1: a lot of pairs. Also a lot of pairs. Something 169 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:21,320 Speaker 1: like twenty seven million tons are produced every year. Whoa 170 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 1: yeah as often. They were the fifth most widely produced 171 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 1: fruit in the world overall, and the the Asian variety specifically, 172 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 1: we're the ninth most produced. I guess yeah um as 173 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: China and the United States grow the most, followed by 174 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:48,600 Speaker 1: Argentina and South Africa. Uh. In the US, the Pacific 175 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 1: Northwest is kind of the growing center, and there are 176 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 1: a number of yearly pair fairs there. Um. One in 177 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 1: med Oregon involves a golf tournament and a corn hole 178 00:12:03,679 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 1: tournament both thank you. Um. It has been running every 179 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 1: April since nineteen fifty four. Wow. Yeah, listeners, please right 180 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 1: in as always pictures. Yes, yes, I need to know 181 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 1: about this, okay. Um. Pair production in that region is 182 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:30,200 Speaker 1: shifting though, from mostly producing for canning to mostly producing 183 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 1: for selling fresh. Um. As of two thousand one, it 184 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:39,880 Speaker 1: was like seventy canned fresh and as it was canned 185 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:45,559 Speaker 1: to fresh. Yeah mm hmm. And one more number here. 186 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:48,319 Speaker 1: It's not strictly about pairs, but I found it way 187 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 1: too interesting to let it pass by. Um. Apparently that 188 00:12:53,679 --> 00:12:58,440 Speaker 1: was a pun. Sorry okay, uh in just assumed that 189 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:00,880 Speaker 1: I meant every single pun in this episode except for 190 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:07,960 Speaker 1: that one. That one slipped by me o. Um. In 191 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:13,840 Speaker 1: the mid to late grocery stores might have devoted five 192 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 1: ft of shelf space two canned fruits. Whoa, um, these 193 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:26,360 Speaker 1: days it's more more like like three to five feet. Yeah, 194 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:33,240 Speaker 1: that's quite a shift. Yeah yeah, and twenty feet is 195 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:36,000 Speaker 1: is what like like a six six ms? Yeah, so 196 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 1: it's like like six ms to like one mem yeah 197 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:46,680 Speaker 1: wow m hm. Times they are a changing, they are, indeed. Well. 198 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 1: I have some peir pop culture notes, although as mentioned, 199 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:54,600 Speaker 1: I had to make some executive decisions here. Um. They're 200 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:57,960 Speaker 1: gonna be a few more throughout the history section, but 201 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:00,720 Speaker 1: I just want to include these because the reason kind 202 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:03,439 Speaker 1: of like where did you know this thing come from? 203 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:07,480 Speaker 1: Apparently there's a thing in Spain set or this is 204 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 1: the pair referring to an amazing experience. I know, right, 205 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:18,320 Speaker 1: isn't that excellent? This is really the pair yes listeners 206 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 1: again police right in. But then on the other hand 207 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:25,800 Speaker 1: you have something being pear shaped, which is usually denoting 208 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 1: something that went wrong. I found a whole thing from 209 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 1: the U. S d A about this. I didn't have 210 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:36,480 Speaker 1: the energy to go into it, but anyway, Um, this 211 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:40,040 Speaker 1: is a this is a British ism mostly uh and 212 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:44,120 Speaker 1: I also kind of went on a dive into it. 213 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: And there's a lot of argument about where it comes from. 214 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:48,920 Speaker 1: But it seems to have really developed in the nine 215 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 1: nineties as a phrase, which is a lot newer than 216 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 1: I thought me too. Yeah um, but yeah, apparently going 217 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 1: pear shaped wasn't really in the written record until right 218 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 1: around the nies anyway, Yeah uh um. Hair shaped can also, 219 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 1: of course, uh talk about the cut of a gems 220 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:16,560 Speaker 1: down um, which means like a tear drop shape um. 221 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 1: Or can refer to a body type which means yeah, 222 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 1: like thicker at the bottom. Mm hmm. It's I mean, 223 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 1: pairs got a lot going on when it comes to 224 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:30,280 Speaker 1: the idioms department and what it can refer to all 225 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 1: kinds of things. And just to illustrate the point Lauren 226 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 1: and I have been making that people are really into pairs, 227 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 1: I want to include this quite dramatic quote my opinion 228 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 1: UM from the Horde Perdue document on Pairs, which was 229 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:49,800 Speaker 1: very helpful to this UM. They're also usually like like 230 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 1: the produced Horticulture Department is a great resource. Um. They 231 00:15:55,840 --> 00:16:00,200 Speaker 1: are frequently very dry in their reportings of the ings. 232 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 1: But there is this paper that they have published on 233 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 1: pairs that is full of history and culture notes. And yeah, 234 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:10,080 Speaker 1: just like I looked it up and like, like the 235 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:14,000 Speaker 1: author wasn't quoting someone, They were just saying this about 236 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 1: pairs unto themselves. Yes, I was like, this is not 237 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 1: my normal or Perdue documents that I'm used to. Yeah, 238 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 1: so fun, okay, alright, alright, Eric, please please leave this 239 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: with this antie. Yes, as the opera lover yearns to witness, 240 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 1: but seldom, if ever, experiences the ultimate synthesis of music 241 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 1: and drama, So the pair connoisseur strives to obtain but 242 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:43,240 Speaker 1: seldom gets to consume the perfect fruit at its optimum 243 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 1: state of maturity and stage of ripeness to produce the 244 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:52,880 Speaker 1: perfect proportion of texture, flavor, acidity, and sweetness. It's beautiful. 245 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:58,720 Speaker 1: It's beautiful. It's about pairs and pairing pairs to the opera. Yes, 246 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:07,040 Speaker 1: the unobtainable perfect pair. Oh my gosh, I love it. 247 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 1: There we are, there, we are. But how did we 248 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:15,400 Speaker 1: get to here? Ah? There is so much history there is, 249 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:17,560 Speaker 1: and we will get into it, but first we're going 250 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 1: to take a quick break for word from our sponsor, 251 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:33,840 Speaker 1: and we're back. Thank you sponsor, Yes, thank you, so okay, 252 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:39,880 Speaker 1: um pairs. Pairs are thousands of years old, um, and 253 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:44,359 Speaker 1: there are several different places they may have originated from. Also, 254 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 1: you know, some varieties come into play here too. Uh. 255 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:53,680 Speaker 1: Some speculate that pairs originally are from southeastern Europe, while 256 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:56,920 Speaker 1: others say they're originally from Asia. Um. There are about 257 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 1: twenty species in the genus Pirates. UM. I don't know 258 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 1: a lot of different conflicting numbers about that. And these 259 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 1: varieties are thought to be from a wide swath of 260 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 1: land from Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor and Asia. Yeah, 261 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:17,160 Speaker 1: it's it seems to be at least two starting points. 262 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:20,199 Speaker 1: But people like to argue about it. They also like 263 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:24,680 Speaker 1: to argue about that number of species. I read somewhere 264 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 1: like like eight species in Pirus, including some recognized hybrids, 265 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 1: and the article that I read this and noted that 266 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 1: like taxonomists enjoy arguing about this, So of course, anyway, Um, 267 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 1: the genus started branching off from other rosassi A relatives 268 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 1: like twenty five million years ago or more. Um, But right, 269 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:55,160 Speaker 1: the types that we know today are from the past 270 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:57,359 Speaker 1: couple of thousand years and are the result of a 271 00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:02,399 Speaker 1: lot of evolution and also human intervention. Yes, because wherever 272 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 1: they're from, pairs have a long history of people enjoying them, um, 273 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:11,760 Speaker 1: really really enjoying them. Records suggest that pairs were present 274 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 1: in China going back as far as five thousand b C. 275 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 1: When a Chinese diplomat shirked his responsibilities in favor of 276 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:23,080 Speaker 1: grafting numerous crops, including pairs. So who's basically like, I'd 277 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:26,879 Speaker 1: rather be doing this thing with the pair? Sorry, UM. 278 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:30,520 Speaker 1: Pairs showed up in China's written record over hundred years ago, 279 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:35,159 Speaker 1: and in the early days UM, it seems it was 280 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 1: viewed as a luxury or something enjoyed by royalty. It 281 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:44,240 Speaker 1: was very favored for sweetness and its texture. UM. A 282 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 1: sixth century book chronicles the history of growing pairs in 283 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:51,399 Speaker 1: China over the preceding fifteen hundred years. The seat at 284 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:53,879 Speaker 1: the pair was present in Japan by about two hundred 285 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:56,439 Speaker 1: three hundred C, but the pair didn't show up in 286 00:19:56,440 --> 00:20:01,199 Speaker 1: the written record until about seven UM. He was probably 287 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:05,280 Speaker 1: around and kicking before that, though, uh. And according to 288 00:20:05,359 --> 00:20:08,080 Speaker 1: some of these same sources, the pair has a long 289 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:12,360 Speaker 1: history of being associated with things like fertility, longevity, purity, wisdom, 290 00:20:12,359 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 1: and nobility in places like Korean China. Again, please write 291 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:18,040 Speaker 1: in I couldn't remember. I think we talked about this 292 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:22,120 Speaker 1: a little bit in our Lunar New Year episode. Yeah, 293 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:26,399 Speaker 1: pairs are one of the unlucky foods to gift around 294 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:30,720 Speaker 1: the Lunar New Year because of the hominem that is, 295 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 1: the word pair and the word um I think separate 296 00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:39,600 Speaker 1: or move apart or something something like that. Something that 297 00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:41,800 Speaker 1: was so strikingly close to the hominem that it is 298 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 1: in English that I was like, oh huh yeah, anyway, 299 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 1: um again, listeners right in um uh. If we look 300 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:54,640 Speaker 1: at Europe, the European pair goes back to prehistoric times there, 301 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:57,640 Speaker 1: and dried slices dating back to the Ice Age were 302 00:20:57,680 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 1: discovered in some Swiss caves dried slices pears. Uh. The 303 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:08,680 Speaker 1: ancient Greeks and Romans favored pairs. They used them in syrups, desserts, wines. 304 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:12,000 Speaker 1: In fact, Homer described them as a quote gift from 305 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:14,639 Speaker 1: the gods. And what is one of the very first 306 00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:19,760 Speaker 1: known written instances of this fruit. Um. Several of our 307 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:25,120 Speaker 1: ancient agriculturalist, herbalist, doctors, philosophers, a lot of them. Multiple 308 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:29,119 Speaker 1: of those hats wrote about them, including Plenty who was 309 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:32,520 Speaker 1: a big fan, and he wrote about their many purported 310 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:36,359 Speaker 1: medicinal purposes, specifically boiled pairs, because it's kind of funny 311 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:38,560 Speaker 1: as a whole thing about like, don't need a fresh pair, 312 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:40,359 Speaker 1: that's not good for you, you don't want that, but 313 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:48,280 Speaker 1: you boil them. Gokay, sure, sure uh. The Romans developed 314 00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:52,359 Speaker 1: somewhere around fifty varieties and planted them across Europe. And 315 00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:55,359 Speaker 1: because they were surprized and their shelf life was pretty decent, 316 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 1: which I was kind of like raised my eyebrow, but okay, 317 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:03,080 Speaker 1: I guess so um, they traveled along many ancient trade routes. 318 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:07,960 Speaker 1: Charlemagne established the first known collection of pairs in France 319 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:11,399 Speaker 1: sometime in the ninth century, though they were probably pretty 320 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:14,440 Speaker 1: common in the country before then, and like, we could 321 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:16,280 Speaker 1: have done a whole episode just on the history of 322 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:20,119 Speaker 1: pears in France to be honest that oh yeah, oh easy. 323 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:25,600 Speaker 1: People loved him. I loved him. Pairs show up quite 324 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:29,000 Speaker 1: a bit in religious text and art from around this time, 325 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 1: as we've discussed with practically every fruit episode, and I 326 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:37,240 Speaker 1: think some that weren't even fruit. The forbidden fruit in 327 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:41,439 Speaker 1: the Garden of Eden wasn't explicitly named, and some argue 328 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:44,000 Speaker 1: it may have been a pair instead of an apple. 329 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:48,840 Speaker 1: It served as a symbol of sinful temptation. In Augustine 330 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:53,399 Speaker 1: four hundred c work, Confessions are Testimony, and that's the 331 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:57,600 Speaker 1: title differs depending on the translation. Um Augustine was an 332 00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 1: influential religious figure, and in this work, one of his 333 00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:04,639 Speaker 1: most well known works. By the way, he pontificates about 334 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:08,840 Speaker 1: how he stole pairs in his use, like about half 335 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:12,960 Speaker 1: of this work is about this um and it ultimately 336 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:16,680 Speaker 1: compares that event in his life to the story of 337 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:21,480 Speaker 1: Adam and Eve. At the same time, the pair is 338 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:24,960 Speaker 1: often used to represent christ love for humanity, so again 339 00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:27,840 Speaker 1: it's like all these different things. The pair has been 340 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:33,000 Speaker 1: used to symbolize throughout throughout history. Pairs were depicted in 341 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:37,240 Speaker 1: art found at Pompeii. Also, of note, pairs were considered 342 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:41,919 Speaker 1: sacred to the Egyptian goddess isis Uh, but that was 343 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:45,720 Speaker 1: not the extent of their role in culture at all. Oh, No, 344 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:49,960 Speaker 1: pairs were so beloved they were frequently depicted in European 345 00:23:50,119 --> 00:23:54,240 Speaker 1: art during the Renaissance, including the famous work by Giovanni 346 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:58,920 Speaker 1: Bellini Madonna of the Pair. Leonardo da Vinci, who loved 347 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:03,000 Speaker 1: collecting all kinds of stories and just things. Like he 348 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:07,680 Speaker 1: liked finding good funds and metaphors, he would collect them. 349 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:10,600 Speaker 1: Somewhere in the fourteen and fifteen hundreds, he collected this 350 00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:13,879 Speaker 1: story about the pear which I would like to include. Okay, 351 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:17,040 Speaker 1: all right, yeah, The laurel and the myrtle, on seeing 352 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:19,080 Speaker 1: at the pear tree being cut down, cried out in 353 00:24:19,119 --> 00:24:21,560 Speaker 1: a loud voice, Oh pear tree, where are you going? 354 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:23,639 Speaker 1: Where is the pride that you had when you were 355 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:26,440 Speaker 1: laden with ripe fruit? Now you will no longer make 356 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:29,680 Speaker 1: shade for us with your thick foliage. The pear tree replied, 357 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:32,160 Speaker 1: I am going with the husbandman who's cutting me down, 358 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:33,720 Speaker 1: and who will take me to the workshop of a 359 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:36,359 Speaker 1: good sculptor, who, by his art will cause me to 360 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:39,120 Speaker 1: assume the form of the God Jove, and I shall 361 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:41,359 Speaker 1: be dedicated in the temple and worshiped by men in 362 00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:44,119 Speaker 1: the place of Jove, while you are obliged to remain 363 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:47,080 Speaker 1: always maimed and stripped of your branches, while men shall 364 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:50,879 Speaker 1: set around me in order to do me honor. Wow, 365 00:24:51,760 --> 00:24:56,320 Speaker 1: some shade from the pear tree. Yeah, the pear tree 366 00:24:56,440 --> 00:25:02,600 Speaker 1: was not done throwing shade, I know, all right, my 367 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:07,359 Speaker 1: my mind, And yeah, they do indeed show up in 368 00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:12,520 Speaker 1: a lot of rhymes, puzzles, lyrics, pawns, musical compositions about pairs, 369 00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:16,240 Speaker 1: political metaphors, all kinds of things from this time. There's 370 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 1: even like this really long and interesting history I found 371 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:22,760 Speaker 1: about kind of a word puzzle about pairs that's just 372 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:25,000 Speaker 1: existed for so long and no one knows quite at 373 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:29,280 Speaker 1: what it means or where it comes from. That's fascinating. Um. 374 00:25:29,320 --> 00:25:32,919 Speaker 1: But I did want to include the specific case of 375 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:35,240 Speaker 1: the pair being used as a political metaphor from the 376 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:40,200 Speaker 1: eighteen hundreds. Um. So, they were these three French caricaturists, 377 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:43,360 Speaker 1: and they used the pair to represent King Louis Philippe 378 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:51,560 Speaker 1: and this pair worked on a whole host of levels. Okay, alright, So, 379 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:55,040 Speaker 1: for instance, they used his initials LP to denote la 380 00:25:55,160 --> 00:25:58,560 Speaker 1: poire are the pair, and depicted him with a pair 381 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:03,120 Speaker 1: for a head of hay, which was slang for simpleton 382 00:26:03,359 --> 00:26:07,280 Speaker 1: in France at the time. The fact that the pair 383 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:09,880 Speaker 1: was a fruit that would rot was used to represent 384 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:14,160 Speaker 1: his corruption, and the somewhat phallic nature of the fruit 385 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:20,600 Speaker 1: was used to elicit more mockery at his experience. Eventually, 386 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:24,080 Speaker 1: two of the caricaturists were fined and imprisoned for hurting 387 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:27,840 Speaker 1: the dignity of the king. Uh. The one tried to 388 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:31,560 Speaker 1: make the argument unsuccessfully, but I love the attempt that 389 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:35,359 Speaker 1: the king did resemble a pair, and they must jail 390 00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:40,439 Speaker 1: all pairs if they were so mad about it. I 391 00:26:40,520 --> 00:26:45,520 Speaker 1: love it. I love it. Go ahead and jail all 392 00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:47,840 Speaker 1: the pairs if they're so mad that I'm pulling it 393 00:26:47,880 --> 00:26:50,359 Speaker 1: out that that's so good. But in French so it 394 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:56,560 Speaker 1: sounds like extra, yeah, extra exactly exactly where is that movie? Anyway? 395 00:26:58,520 --> 00:27:02,000 Speaker 1: According to John Gerard's fifty or Ball, I always say 396 00:27:02,040 --> 00:27:03,600 Speaker 1: her band, and I'm not sure if that's what it is. 397 00:27:03,640 --> 00:27:08,000 Speaker 1: Herbal Herbal pairs were common in England by that time. 398 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:15,600 Speaker 1: One famous Englishman wasn't a fan though Shakespeare. Shakespeare mentioned 399 00:27:15,640 --> 00:27:19,359 Speaker 1: pears four times in his works, and every mention was 400 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:23,040 Speaker 1: not favorable towards the pair. And here's my favorite one 401 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:26,480 Speaker 1: from All's Well, that ends, well, your virginity, your old 402 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:29,840 Speaker 1: virginity is like one of our French withered pairs. It 403 00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:33,879 Speaker 1: looks ill, it eats dryly. Mary' tis a weathered pair. 404 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:47,760 Speaker 1: It was formerly better Mary, yet tis a withered pair pair. Shakespeare, right, geez, 405 00:27:48,359 --> 00:27:52,840 Speaker 1: a lot of ship going on in this one. So 406 00:27:53,560 --> 00:27:58,280 Speaker 1: pairs exploded in popularity in France in the sixteenth century, 407 00:27:58,359 --> 00:28:01,080 Speaker 1: with sixteen recorded varieties being grown there, though I saw 408 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:04,399 Speaker 1: much higher numbers like up in the two hundreds, higher 409 00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:08,240 Speaker 1: numbers of pairs at that time. They were frequently used 410 00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:11,560 Speaker 1: in dessert preparations, and I found, like I said, we 411 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:14,800 Speaker 1: could do a whole episode on just this. There was 412 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:17,680 Speaker 1: so much information about what was going on with a 413 00:28:17,720 --> 00:28:20,560 Speaker 1: par in France at this time, all of the dishes 414 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:24,720 Speaker 1: they made with it, Oh my goodness, But not today, 415 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:29,359 Speaker 1: not today. The seventeenth century saw another sweeping growth of 416 00:28:29,359 --> 00:28:33,240 Speaker 1: pear tree cultivation and popularity in Europe, as showcased by 417 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:36,840 Speaker 1: its inclusion in the eighteenth century song the Twelve Days 418 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:39,800 Speaker 1: of Christmas, which I told you've never really kind of 419 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:42,640 Speaker 1: thought about why it's in there, and cartridge in a 420 00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:47,360 Speaker 1: pear tree sar okay, exactly. Well off English folks wanted 421 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:49,479 Speaker 1: a different type of pair for every season. I think 422 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:51,840 Speaker 1: it was called succession, like you had to have one 423 00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:55,160 Speaker 1: for the winter, one for like spring, and this was 424 00:28:55,720 --> 00:28:58,840 Speaker 1: this whole thing. Um. They were also used to make 425 00:28:59,080 --> 00:29:03,400 Speaker 1: ciders and wine. Yeah. Yeah. By the Victorian era in 426 00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:08,760 Speaker 1: England into the nineteenth century, um, estate gardens were growing 427 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:13,320 Speaker 1: like fifty to a hundred different types of pears each 428 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:18,000 Speaker 1: uh and so right, they would mature like like throughout 429 00:29:18,040 --> 00:29:21,280 Speaker 1: the summer and then ripe in either on the tree 430 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:26,520 Speaker 1: or in storage in succession across a period of months. Uh. 431 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:31,280 Speaker 1: And apparently fresh fruit was really posh during this time, 432 00:29:31,440 --> 00:29:35,640 Speaker 1: and fancy tables would serve just fresh fruit for dessert 433 00:29:35,680 --> 00:29:40,480 Speaker 1: to like really showcase their gardens. And this is not 434 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:43,040 Speaker 1: the only place where that kind of thing was happening. No. 435 00:29:43,320 --> 00:29:45,760 Speaker 1: At the same time, in Japan, more than one and 436 00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:49,200 Speaker 1: fifty cultivars were recorded, and according to a few sources 437 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:52,080 Speaker 1: I read, people might put pears on corners to ward 438 00:29:52,080 --> 00:29:54,640 Speaker 1: off evil spirits. And I read so much about this too. 439 00:29:54,760 --> 00:30:00,200 Speaker 1: Listeners again right in specific corner it was are you 440 00:30:00,280 --> 00:30:02,680 Speaker 1: very fascinating? But I would love if anybody has more 441 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:07,640 Speaker 1: information personal experience. During the eighteenth and nineteenth century and 442 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:11,080 Speaker 1: what is now Belgium, over one thousand named varieties of 443 00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:18,000 Speaker 1: pears were being grown. I know um America's first recorded 444 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:21,880 Speaker 1: pear tree was planted in sixteen twenty, and many Europeans 445 00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:25,160 Speaker 1: were growing them here by the seventeen hundreds. However, the 446 00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:28,480 Speaker 1: crop faced several blights that made it difficult to sustain 447 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:33,800 Speaker 1: widespread cultivation. Yeah. Also early crops in America were planted 448 00:30:33,840 --> 00:30:37,760 Speaker 1: from seeds. Uh and as with apples, and the similar 449 00:30:37,760 --> 00:30:40,200 Speaker 1: thing happened with apples. You can see your Apple episode 450 00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:43,440 Speaker 1: about that pear seeds will not grow trees that bear 451 00:30:43,480 --> 00:30:46,560 Speaker 1: the exact same kind of fruit as their parents. So 452 00:30:47,240 --> 00:30:49,920 Speaker 1: this wound up on the good side, introducing a lot 453 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:53,560 Speaker 1: of genetic variation and in American pears, but it was 454 00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:56,880 Speaker 1: a little tricky getting varieties that people wanted at first. 455 00:30:57,520 --> 00:31:01,680 Speaker 1: Eventually graphs made it over from Europe. They did flourish 456 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:04,680 Speaker 1: in the climate of the Pacific Northwest. When planted there 457 00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:08,720 Speaker 1: in the eighteen hundreds, specifically Washington and Oregon. Pear tree 458 00:31:08,760 --> 00:31:12,040 Speaker 1: cultivation only increased in the area after the discovery of 459 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:16,479 Speaker 1: new irrigation techniques. Random fact I found in one of 460 00:31:16,520 --> 00:31:22,600 Speaker 1: my mat hort perdue dogument. Accused axe murderer Lizzie Borden 461 00:31:23,480 --> 00:31:27,000 Speaker 1: used pears as an alibi in the nineteenth century. She 462 00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:30,760 Speaker 1: claimed she'd been eating pears while her father was being murdered, 463 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:33,040 Speaker 1: Like she had one in the morning, she found three 464 00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:36,160 Speaker 1: and was enjoying them when all of this was going down. 465 00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:39,680 Speaker 1: I could not possibly have done it. I was busy 466 00:31:39,720 --> 00:31:46,760 Speaker 1: eating pears. Yeah, who can resist the pars um. Oregon 467 00:31:46,800 --> 00:31:50,680 Speaker 1: based company Harry and David's debut their male Order Pairs 468 00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:54,880 Speaker 1: in the nineteen thirties, and pairs are Oregon state fruit. 469 00:31:55,320 --> 00:31:59,480 Speaker 1: I saw a lot of very proud articles from like 470 00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:04,000 Speaker 1: govern are just publications out of Oregon. We're very proud 471 00:32:04,040 --> 00:32:08,160 Speaker 1: and fond of the pair. Yeah, why not? Why not? 472 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:13,160 Speaker 1: In the film Gentlemen Preferred Blonde, which is based on 473 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:19,040 Speaker 1: the Yes this is in the pair episode we're introduced 474 00:32:19,040 --> 00:32:21,640 Speaker 1: to the lyric men grow cold as girls grow old, 475 00:32:21,880 --> 00:32:23,680 Speaker 1: and we all lose our charms in the end, but 476 00:32:23,760 --> 00:32:26,560 Speaker 1: square cut our pear shape. These rocks don't lose their shape. 477 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:29,560 Speaker 1: Diamonds are a girl's best friend. Yeah, it's hard not 478 00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:32,960 Speaker 1: to sing it. I didn't sing it, especially if you're 479 00:32:33,040 --> 00:32:39,920 Speaker 1: as completely enamored with mulin rouge as I am. Um 480 00:32:39,960 --> 00:32:43,600 Speaker 1: but uh, oh goodness. I did try looking into the 481 00:32:43,720 --> 00:32:51,320 Speaker 1: history of the pear shaped diamond, and uh lore has it. 482 00:32:51,440 --> 00:32:54,920 Speaker 1: I couldn't find any academic sources on a very brief 483 00:32:54,960 --> 00:32:58,120 Speaker 1: Google search. But lore has it that this shape was 484 00:32:59,160 --> 00:33:02,360 Speaker 1: actually goes back to like the fourteen hundreds, like the 485 00:33:02,400 --> 00:33:05,760 Speaker 1: mid to late fourteen hundreds, from one of the original 486 00:33:05,840 --> 00:33:11,920 Speaker 1: inventors of like gem cutting technology. Um, but who knows. 487 00:33:12,400 --> 00:33:18,360 Speaker 1: I don't, I don't. UM. I can tell you that 488 00:33:18,800 --> 00:33:21,440 Speaker 1: in the mid nineteen hundreds, pairs were a very popular 489 00:33:21,840 --> 00:33:26,040 Speaker 1: canned fruit and still are in especially in institutions like 490 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:29,160 Speaker 1: schools and prisons where there is a need or a 491 00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:35,480 Speaker 1: desire to provide inexpensive and shelf stable fruit options. During 492 00:33:35,800 --> 00:33:39,800 Speaker 1: the nineteen eighties and nineteen nineties, China really stepped up 493 00:33:39,800 --> 00:33:43,480 Speaker 1: their production and they now produce a way more pairs 494 00:33:43,640 --> 00:33:49,760 Speaker 1: than everybody else in the world combined. H and uh. 495 00:33:49,960 --> 00:33:52,720 Speaker 1: Still speaking about canned pairs there, there's been a loss 496 00:33:52,720 --> 00:33:55,240 Speaker 1: of interest in canned fruit in general from the general 497 00:33:55,320 --> 00:34:00,000 Speaker 1: public um, and also between that and competition from Chinese imports, 498 00:34:00,040 --> 00:34:03,200 Speaker 1: it's now has some Pacific Northwest pair canning plants shutting 499 00:34:03,240 --> 00:34:07,760 Speaker 1: down entirely these days. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Then again, 500 00:34:09,400 --> 00:34:11,400 Speaker 1: we've got a lot of homework assignments for you listeners 501 00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:14,640 Speaker 1: in this one. But anybody from the area, give us 502 00:34:14,640 --> 00:34:18,319 Speaker 1: a low down on this pair festival, but also just 503 00:34:18,400 --> 00:34:22,560 Speaker 1: what's going on with this pad? Yeah, it's a vibe 504 00:34:23,080 --> 00:34:28,319 Speaker 1: the pair vibe check. Please. Well, there's so much we 505 00:34:28,320 --> 00:34:30,640 Speaker 1: could have covered and included, but we had to draw 506 00:34:30,680 --> 00:34:33,520 Speaker 1: the line somewhere. So I think this is about what 507 00:34:33,560 --> 00:34:36,440 Speaker 1: we have to say about the pair for now. It is. 508 00:34:37,360 --> 00:34:40,120 Speaker 1: We do have some listener mail for you, though, and 509 00:34:40,160 --> 00:34:41,680 Speaker 1: we are going to get into that as soon as 510 00:34:41,680 --> 00:34:43,239 Speaker 1: we get back from one more quick break for a 511 00:34:43,280 --> 00:34:54,960 Speaker 1: word from our sponsors, and we're back. Thank you sponsoring, Yes, 512 00:34:55,040 --> 00:35:08,560 Speaker 1: thank you, and we're back with Listen Opera. I am 513 00:35:08,560 --> 00:35:11,400 Speaker 1: pretty sure that what we just did was not operatic 514 00:35:13,400 --> 00:35:20,560 Speaker 1: fair points, true enough, It's probably for the best. Yeah, 515 00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:23,120 Speaker 1: I just think we shouldn't quit our day jobs. Um, 516 00:35:23,160 --> 00:35:28,120 Speaker 1: But yes, okay, so a lot of you have written 517 00:35:28,120 --> 00:35:34,080 Speaker 1: about Jill and pickles and it's been fantastic. So Um 518 00:35:34,239 --> 00:35:37,320 Speaker 1: Joe wrote your episode on dill reminded me of a relative, 519 00:35:37,520 --> 00:35:40,520 Speaker 1: not blood related, but family nonetheless. Okay, this aunt of 520 00:35:40,560 --> 00:35:42,239 Speaker 1: mine was a pillar in our community, and I have 521 00:35:42,360 --> 00:35:44,440 Speaker 1: many fond memories of all the parties she hosted at 522 00:35:44,440 --> 00:35:46,759 Speaker 1: her home. I was quite a picky eater as a 523 00:35:46,840 --> 00:35:50,240 Speaker 1: kid there, and one of the things I could always 524 00:35:50,239 --> 00:35:54,200 Speaker 1: eat at her house were dill oyster crackers. I could 525 00:35:54,320 --> 00:35:56,760 Speaker 1: and would eat them by the handful until the snack 526 00:35:56,800 --> 00:36:02,239 Speaker 1: bowl was empty. They were soft, savory, and delicious. After 527 00:36:02,400 --> 00:36:04,680 Speaker 1: much begging, she finally gave me the recipe when I 528 00:36:04,680 --> 00:36:07,239 Speaker 1: was in high school, and it follows. Take two bags 529 00:36:07,280 --> 00:36:09,600 Speaker 1: of oyster crackers and empty them into a large brown 530 00:36:09,600 --> 00:36:12,799 Speaker 1: paper bag. Add one packet of dry ranch seasoning, a 531 00:36:12,880 --> 00:36:15,440 Speaker 1: teaspoon or two of dry dill, and a few gloves 532 00:36:15,480 --> 00:36:18,600 Speaker 1: of olive oil. Fold the bag clothes, and give everything 533 00:36:18,640 --> 00:36:23,560 Speaker 1: a good shake to distribute flavoring. Enjoy side note, I 534 00:36:23,600 --> 00:36:26,920 Speaker 1: wonder how this would taste with fresh dill. Time to experiment. 535 00:36:27,320 --> 00:36:29,600 Speaker 1: Thanks for bringing back these memories of my aunt. She 536 00:36:29,640 --> 00:36:31,800 Speaker 1: passed away a few years ago. But alongside the recipe, 537 00:36:31,880 --> 00:36:35,279 Speaker 1: I have also inherited her cookbook collection, cookbooks that she 538 00:36:35,280 --> 00:36:37,680 Speaker 1: would buy as souvenirs of her travels abroad. I'll have 539 00:36:37,719 --> 00:36:39,560 Speaker 1: to pick one out and cook her recipe soon as 540 00:36:39,560 --> 00:36:46,520 Speaker 1: a tribute to her. Oh uh, that is the most 541 00:36:46,680 --> 00:36:51,279 Speaker 1: amazing type of travel souvenir I've ever heard of. I 542 00:36:51,320 --> 00:36:55,160 Speaker 1: love that, Yes, yes, And I love just picking out 543 00:36:55,160 --> 00:36:57,319 Speaker 1: a recipe and paying tribute because I do. Every time 544 00:36:57,320 --> 00:37:00,000 Speaker 1: I look at like my grandmother's cookbooks or something, there's 545 00:37:00,080 --> 00:37:02,880 Speaker 1: just especially if it's got like a little note or 546 00:37:02,960 --> 00:37:05,640 Speaker 1: some flour and it's like the corners folded down. You 547 00:37:05,680 --> 00:37:09,000 Speaker 1: can just think of them looking through this and feel 548 00:37:09,080 --> 00:37:11,960 Speaker 1: that connection with them. Now I'm here and I'm doing it. 549 00:37:12,000 --> 00:37:15,120 Speaker 1: I love it. I think that's great. Also, that recipe 550 00:37:15,160 --> 00:37:19,560 Speaker 1: sounds delicious for the dill oyster crackers. Yeah, I am 551 00:37:19,560 --> 00:37:23,040 Speaker 1: going like, I don't have any of those things handy, 552 00:37:24,640 --> 00:37:30,080 Speaker 1: but we could get them. Yeah, heck, okay, right m 553 00:37:30,239 --> 00:37:36,960 Speaker 1: hm uh Sabina. So Sabina, I'm not totally sure how 554 00:37:36,960 --> 00:37:39,839 Speaker 1: to pronounce it. Let me know how I'm messing it up. Yes, 555 00:37:40,160 --> 00:37:42,959 Speaker 1: they wrote, I just listened to your episode about dill 556 00:37:43,200 --> 00:37:45,640 Speaker 1: and in the beginning, you spoke about this big German 557 00:37:45,640 --> 00:37:49,479 Speaker 1: tradition of hiding pickles in the Christmas tree. Except there 558 00:37:49,640 --> 00:37:54,520 Speaker 1: is no such tradition, or is there. I heard about 559 00:37:54,520 --> 00:37:57,239 Speaker 1: it the first time when I was away into my 560 00:37:57,280 --> 00:38:00,719 Speaker 1: marriage with an American, when American relative bought me one 561 00:38:00,719 --> 00:38:03,160 Speaker 1: as a gift, and I just stared at them, questioning 562 00:38:03,200 --> 00:38:06,000 Speaker 1: myself how I could ask them politely, why on earth 563 00:38:06,280 --> 00:38:08,920 Speaker 1: I should put a cucumber in my tree or why 564 00:38:09,080 --> 00:38:12,960 Speaker 1: on earth I should hide it? Oh, these Americans. Um. 565 00:38:13,000 --> 00:38:16,120 Speaker 1: I heard about this so called old German tradition every 566 00:38:16,200 --> 00:38:20,160 Speaker 1: now and then, but only today researched it. So there 567 00:38:20,280 --> 00:38:22,879 Speaker 1: is a region in Germany called ho I. I looked 568 00:38:22,880 --> 00:38:28,680 Speaker 1: this up and I'm still not sure Thuringia curringin. I 569 00:38:28,760 --> 00:38:35,080 Speaker 1: got two very different pronunciations from Miriam Webster. Uh. But 570 00:38:35,360 --> 00:38:38,600 Speaker 1: yes there's a region, uh. Continuing It is basically in 571 00:38:38,640 --> 00:38:41,840 Speaker 1: the middle of no of Germany. Um. And they have 572 00:38:41,920 --> 00:38:46,360 Speaker 1: a tradition of glass blowing. And now the legends start. 573 00:38:47,080 --> 00:38:49,600 Speaker 1: One says that a German American soldier who fought in 574 00:38:49,640 --> 00:38:53,400 Speaker 1: the American Revolution got captured and so sick that everyone 575 00:38:53,440 --> 00:38:57,160 Speaker 1: feared he would die. His last wish was for a 576 00:38:57,239 --> 00:39:00,160 Speaker 1: pickle uh and that gave him so much stre that 577 00:39:00,239 --> 00:39:03,080 Speaker 1: he recovered out of sheer thankfulness. He put a pickle 578 00:39:03,160 --> 00:39:05,640 Speaker 1: every year in his Christmas tree. The one who found 579 00:39:05,680 --> 00:39:09,640 Speaker 1: it had luck the next year. Another legend says in 580 00:39:09,680 --> 00:39:12,600 Speaker 1: the seventeenth century, a lot of people were so poor 581 00:39:12,680 --> 00:39:14,759 Speaker 1: that they didn't have the money to put ornaments in 582 00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:16,719 Speaker 1: the Christmas tree, so they put things in it that 583 00:39:16,760 --> 00:39:21,680 Speaker 1: they could eat, apples, cookies, and in this area, apparently pickles, 584 00:39:21,719 --> 00:39:25,040 Speaker 1: because they had a long tradition there. Um in the 585 00:39:25,120 --> 00:39:29,000 Speaker 1: nineteenth century glassblower made them as glass ornaments and sold 586 00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:32,520 Speaker 1: them in this region. However, it is safe to say 587 00:39:32,560 --> 00:39:35,399 Speaker 1: that pickles in the Christmas tree may be an old 588 00:39:35,400 --> 00:39:39,680 Speaker 1: tradition of one special, slightly ignored region of Germany until 589 00:39:39,719 --> 00:39:43,479 Speaker 1: the Americans brought it back to us. By the way, 590 00:39:43,880 --> 00:39:47,839 Speaker 1: our gurka is still in our tree every year, just 591 00:39:47,960 --> 00:39:50,040 Speaker 1: because it came from relatives, and when we see it 592 00:39:50,080 --> 00:39:55,200 Speaker 1: in centree, we think about them. Yeah, I love. And 593 00:39:55,280 --> 00:39:58,080 Speaker 1: now when I am putting this ornament up or my 594 00:39:58,080 --> 00:40:01,399 Speaker 1: little brother, because it's his ornament here, I will tell 595 00:40:01,480 --> 00:40:09,200 Speaker 1: him all these tales. That's what it's like. Fun times, 596 00:40:09,280 --> 00:40:13,440 Speaker 1: fun stories all around. Yeah, yeah, no, I font fonts 597 00:40:13,440 --> 00:40:17,520 Speaker 1: of information, so either fun or insufferable parties, depending on 598 00:40:17,560 --> 00:40:21,120 Speaker 1: what kind of parties you enjoy. Exactly exactly, but I 599 00:40:21,160 --> 00:40:24,240 Speaker 1: love this. Thank you for turning into it and sharing 600 00:40:24,239 --> 00:40:31,160 Speaker 1: with us. Yes, and thanks to both of you for writing. 601 00:40:31,600 --> 00:40:33,520 Speaker 1: If you would like to write to as listeners, you 602 00:40:33,560 --> 00:40:36,120 Speaker 1: can our emails hello at saver pot dot com. We 603 00:40:36,160 --> 00:40:39,320 Speaker 1: are also on social media. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, 604 00:40:39,320 --> 00:40:41,840 Speaker 1: and Instagram at saver pod and we do hope to 605 00:40:41,840 --> 00:40:44,480 Speaker 1: hear from you. Savor is production of I Heart Radio. 606 00:40:44,640 --> 00:40:47,040 Speaker 1: For more podcasts my Heart Radio, you can visit the 607 00:40:47,040 --> 00:40:50,000 Speaker 1: I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen 608 00:40:50,040 --> 00:40:53,040 Speaker 1: to your favorite shows. Thanks as always to our superproducers 609 00:40:53,120 --> 00:40:55,720 Speaker 1: Dylan Fagan and Andrew Howard. Thanks to you for listening, 610 00:40:55,760 --> 00:40:57,439 Speaker 1: and we hope that lots more good things are coming 611 00:40:57,480 --> 00:40:59,440 Speaker 1: your way