AYLİN ÖNEY TAN
Tough and tart but tasty
Quince is an undiscovered gem of Turkey. Anatolia has an amazing range of quinces, and unlike most of their European counterparts, they are perfectly edible raw. Quinces are usually notorious for their hard and tough flesh, which is difficult to bite into, almost mouth-puckering with a drying effect on the tongue, and even harder to swallow, sometimes giving a choking effect. However, Turkey is abundant with way more pleasant varieties, easy to slice and eat, beautifully fragrant, and mouth-wateringly tart and tasty. Interestingly, Turkey is the leading producer and exporter of quinces in the world, and even we in Turkey do not seem to be aware of it. Quince must be that one fruit we take for granted, without feeling the need to appreciate it, which I consider a huge mistake.
December 13 2020
