Asian pear (Pyrus pyrifolia): names, uses, safety

Pyrus pyrifolia, the Asian or sand pear, nashi in Japan, is the round, crisp, juicy pear that crunches like an apple. Many pears sold as nashpati in North India, including the hard Patharnakh grown in Punjab, are sand pears or their hybrids. They need less winter cold than European pears, so they can be grown in the plains.

Botanical name: Pyrus pyrifolia (Burm.f.) Nakai
Family: Rosaceae
Tamil: Nashpati
Hindi: Nashpati
Parts used: Ripe fruit
Habit: Asian pear; English pear is a shop word
Last updated: 2026-10-27

How to recognise Asian pear

It is a deciduous tree with broad, oval, sharply toothed leaves.

White flowers appear in spring in clusters.

The fruit is round like an apple, with a russet, golden-brown or green skin speckled with pale dots, and crisp, juicy, gritty flesh.

European pear, Pyrus communis, is pear-shaped and softens when ripe.

Unlike European pears, Asian pears are picked ripe and stay crisp for weeks in cold storage.

Traditional use of Asian pear

East Asian kitchen

Nashi pears are eaten fresh in Japan, China and Korea, given as gifts, and grated into marinades for Korean bulgogi, where they tenderise the meat.

East Asian food practice

Punjab orchards

Patharnakh, a hard sand pear, is a traditional orchard fruit of Punjab, eaten crisp or cooked.

Punjab horticulture

Modern notes on Asian pear

Asian pears are eaten crisp straight from the tree, unlike European pears, which ripen off the tree.

They are rich in water and fibre and low in calories.

Asian pear safety

Eat the fruit; avoid eating seeds in quantity.

Ecology and sourcing

It is native to southern China and is grown widely in East Asia.

Its low chilling requirement lets it fruit in the plains of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Bees pollinate its flowers, and most varieties need cross-pollination.

Related plants

Also in Rosaceae

Questions about Asian pear

What is Patharnakh?

A hard sand pear variety grown in Punjab.

Is Asian pear a pear-apple hybrid?

No. It is a true pear that happens to be round and crisp.

What is nashi?

The Japanese name for this pear.

Can Asian pear grow in the plains?

Low-chill sand pears fruit in Punjab and western Uttar Pradesh.

Sources

Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.