Nicolas Panaché

‘Nicolas Panaché’ is a rare coloured sport of ‘Alexandrine Douillard’, sharing the original variety’s productivity and eating qualities while differing through its more extensively bronze and copper-coloured skin.

The medium to large fruit has an elongated pear shape, sometimes irregular and slightly ribbed. Its thin skin becomes bronze yellow at maturity and is extensively covered with russet, giving the fruit a distinctive and particularly decorative appearance.

The white flesh is moderately fine and initially quite firm, becoming melting when fully ripe. It is very sweet, juicy and pleasantly aromatic. The fruit should be eaten before it becomes overripe, as the flesh may then turn slightly mealy.

Harvest takes place from the second half of September into early October. The pears continue to ripen after picking and can be stored for around two months under suitable conditions.

The tree has moderate vigour, is heavily branched, fertile and quick to begin cropping. Its generally good compatibility with quince allows it to be grown in a range of forms. Like the original variety, it is self-sterile and must be planted with a compatible pear flowering at a similar time.