Smyrna Quince Tree
Slices of the Smyrna quince are used by French chefs to bake served with quail, because the quince passes on its fragrance to the fowl. When you visit the grocery store in the Fall you will often find the Smyrna quince offered for sale, after it ripens in September, and this cultivar is believed to have originated in the city of Smyrna,Turkey which originally belonged to the ancient Greeks. Today the Smyrna quince can be found growing near temples of Antiquity in Greece, Syria and Turkey. It is not unusual for a Smyrna Quince tree to bear quince fruit the first year, if you buy a larger tree to plant.