Are apples and pears related? (+3 facts)

In this brief guide, we are going to answer “are apples and pears related?” and discuss what are the similarities between an apple and a pear, what are apple pears, what is a papple, and what nutritional or health benefits do apples and pears have in common.

Yes, apples and pears are related as they belong to the same family Rosaceae or the rose family. However, they belong to two different genera. Apples belong to genus Malus while pears belong to the genus Pyrus.

Around 35- 50 million years ago, apples and pears evolved from a common ancestor which is the reason why they are so similar.

What are the similarities between an apple and a pear?

Both apples and pears are sweet and juicy pomaceous fruits, coming from the same rose family. Both have white flesh covered within an edible skin, and a core containing seeds. 

Apples vary in color from bright green to red with a pale cream or white colored firm flesh, and the smaller apple varieties tend to be sweeter in taste. 

Pears have soft flesh and they are usually green in color. They share the same structure with apples except that they contain many stone cells in their flesh.

What are “apple pears”?

Apple pears or Pyrus pyrifolia is just another pear species from East Asia that originated around 3000 years ago in China. It is also known as asian pear, japanese pear, sand pear, and nashi pear etc. An example of apple pears is crunchy gold apple pear. 

These apple pear varieties share the shape and texture similarities with apples, having a refreshing taste of pears. Skin of apple pears is also enriched with nutrients, so it’s healthier to enjoy the fruit peeled.  

Other FAQs about Apples and pears which you may be interested in.

Can you freeze apple juice?

Can you compost apples? (3 Measures)

Can a bearded dragon eat apples?

What is a “papple”?

Papple is a hybrid of two Asian and European pear families and has their properties. It is a pear whose skin and shape resembles apples. It has not been given an official name yet, so it is going by T109 or papple.

What nutritional or health benefits do apples and pears have in common?

Apples and pears both share an equal amount of potassium, phosphorus, sodium, Vit C, and Vit B2. They have low glycemic index value and are enriched with fibers and antioxidants. 

If we compare both fruits, pears contain higher amounts of iron, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, Vit B3 and Vit K. They also have high fibers and low sugar content as compared to apples. On the other side, apples have higher amounts of Vit A, E, and Vit B1. 

High soluble fiber content of both fruits reduces the cholesterol levels in blood, improves gut health, and prevents constipation and gaining weight. Flavonoids help in reducing blood sugar levels and also have anticancer properties. 

Eating apples and pears can also reduce your risk of getting type 2 diabetes and heart diseases. However, overeating may cause bloating, gas, pain or diarrhea in some people due to their huge content of fructose sugar.

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we answered “are apples and pears related?” and discussed what are the similarities between an apple and a pear, what are apple pears, what is a papple, and what nutritional or health benefits do apples and pears have in common.

References

  1. https://foodstruct.com/compare/pear-vs-apples
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrus_pyrifolia
  3. https://www.plantandfood.com/en-nz/article/surprising-differences-between-apples-pears/

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