Shinseiki is one of the most popular of the early-season Asian or Nashi pear varieties, ripenening in late August / early September.
The large fruits are a pale yellow colorr, flecked with lenticels. The bright white flesh is firm, sweet and juicy.
Shinseiki is also an attractive ornamental tree. The young leaves emerge bronze before turning green, and then taking on autumnal tints in the autumn. The flowers are quite large, and the fruits also add to the ornamental appeal.
Shinseiki is partially to fully self-fertile and does not need another pollinator. However it will cross-pollinate with most other Asian pears, and also many European pears if they flower in the middle of the pear blossom season.
As with all Asian pears, Shinseiki does best if planted in full sun.
Once the tree starts bearing, thin the fruitlets in June, allowing one fruitlet per cluster. Shinseiki will readily over-crop and if you do not thin, you will end up with lots of small flavor-less fruits.
Asian pears, or Nashi pears, belong to the species Pyrus pyrifolia and are closely related to our more common European pears (Pyrus communis).
Despite the close relation, Asian pears have a very different character to European pears. They have a spherical shape, more like an apple than a pear. The flesh is also crisp like an apple.
The fruits are delicate and bruise easily, and hence are not often available in shops, so growing them at home is a good idea. They are usually eaten fresh (and usually peeled), and have a distinctive very sweet flavour, with little or no acidity. The fruits and can be stored in a fridge for a couple of months, or dried or frozen.
Like apples, and unlike most European pears, Asian pears are picked when they are ripe (European pears must usually be picked before they are ripe). Conversely, Asian pears cannot be picked before they are ripe because they will not continue to ripen after picking - another reason why these fruits are rarely available for sale.
Although the fruits may be very different, Asian or Nashi pears grow in a similar way to European pears, and if you have a location which is good for European pears it will also be suitable for Asian pears. Furthermore, Asian and European pears will often cross-pollinate if they are in flower at the same time.
This variety description was researched and written by Orange Pippin staff. Last checked: 2024.