Medlar

Some fruits have really liked this summer - blackberries, rowan berries, medlars, for example - masses of them. Here is a medlar in all its glory. Before eating them, you need to pick them come Autumn, and lay them in trays to "blet" or semi-rot. The skin wrinkles, the flesh turns brown and they can be eaten without cooking, tasting a bit like stewed apples. OR - and this is the best thing - you can make wine with them, which turns out like a classy Fino sherry. At least it does when Cathaber makes it.