Pear Pyrus communis The pear is European and Asiatic in origin, centering most probably on the region of the Caucasus, and has been cultivated since well before recorded history. It is thought that it was spread by the migration of the Aryans through Europe and India and the remains of wild pears have been found at Mesolithic sites. The pear was considered to be a superior fruit by the Ancients, who much preferred it to the apple. The Romans raised its cultivation to an art form. In 300BC, Theophrastes describes pear growing in detail and Pliny the Elder, the Roman Encyclopaedist lists more pears than apples in his works. The Chinese, too, held the pear above the apple. At the time of the Sung Dynasty, (1279AD), there was just one variety of apple known to the Chinese, but many pears, and it is the Chinese who claim to have introduced the fruit into India. Cultivation of different strains was so successful that by the height of the Medici 200 varieties were available and records from the Royal Horticultural Society at Kew had identified more than 700 by 1842. The pear was included in the Westward part of the Columbian Exchange, with seeds being shipped out to the new colony at Massachusetts in 1629. Because they were grown from seeds, they took on new characteristic in their new environment, creating quite distinctive American strains. Pear breeding was at its height in Western Europe by the 18th century and by 1849 the first Doyenne de Comice made its appearance on the banks of the Loire in France. Nutritionally, the pear is useful for potassium intake, which helps to regulate blood pressure levels and are a good source of insoluble fibre, which helps regulate bowel action and may protect against certain forms of cancer. Pear is also a source of soluble fibre, pectin, and one fruit yields around 10% of the recommended daily intake for vitamin C. At 40 kcalories per 100g or 70 for the average pear, it is an ideal snack for weightwatchers - sweet with fructose for easily utilized energy intake - but still only 38 on the Glycaemic Index. Dried pears also contain iron and even higher concentrations of potassium. Pears are also amongst the least allergenic of foodstuffs, and so are popular for use in weaning, exclusion and invalid diets.