Quince.

[The Cumbrian]

I've found a quince tree near my digs in Lincolnshire, but my copy of "Food for Free" is 200 miles away in Cumbria and I won't be home for a few weeks.
Any info on when to harvest, how to use etc would be much appreciated. I remember that they need bleeting in the UK, but that's about as much as I can recall.

Cheers, Michael.

 

[Toddy]

I grow them in the garden. The fruits are never really sweet, but they are excellent for preserves.
A bowlful of them put into a room will scent the whole house I'm quite fond of them.
Grated quince infused in brandy for a couple of months makes a ratafia; a lovely drink, much like making sloe gin.

If you're after recipes, have a look at some of the medieval cooking sites. In the past quince was used in making a kind of moulded soft lozenge. Tangy, good for the digestion. They're also good as a chutney kind of mincemeat.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[hardr004]

We als o have them in the garden and we tryed making Quince Jam, I t was horrible, it needed a ton of sugar.

 

[Toddy]

Have a look at this site

http://www.historicfood.com/Quinces Recipe.htm

cheers,
M