Bring a breath of fresh air to your spa’s menu during the cold winter months with delicious pears. Unlike the tartness of an apple or the tang of citrus, pears are a delicate, juicy fruit with a grainy texture that tickles the tongue. Their aromatic scent also makes a great addition to skin care creams and lotions, as well as aromatherapy oils and candles.
Facts
There are nearly 1,000 varieties of pears, but only seven are grown commercially. The apple-shaped to teardrop-shaped fruit with its luscious texture has been sought after throughout history. In Western Asia, its use can be traced back 3,000 years. Pears were noted as “the gift of the gods” by the Greek poet Homer in his epic The Odyssey, and they were brought to the United States by the pilgrims. In the 1800s, people would pay up to $20, which today is equivalent to $222, for a taste of the rare fruit.
Pears are low in calories, are fat-free, and offer an excellent source of fiber, potassium, vitamin C and copper, making them a powerful punch in any diet. Fiber helps the body digest foods, lowers cholesterol levels and binds to cancer-causing chemicals in the colon. Potassium is an electrolyte that maintains the body’s fluid levels, and helps to regulate blood pressure and heart function. Vitamin C and copper act as strong antioxidants that protect against free radicals. Pears also make a tasty energy-boosting snack for clients on the go or for use along with a pear-themed treatment.
In the kitchen
Pears can be combined with other fruits, such as apples, bananas and oranges, to create a plethora of delicious desserts—from tarts to scones. Red Mountain Spa in St. George, Utah, tantalizes guests with Poached Pear with Edible Flowers, and The Oaks at Ojai in Ojai, California, arranges pears in its Mincemeat Pear Pile/Strudel. See the recipe for Red Crimson Pear Phyllo Strudel, courtesy of Chef Steve Pernetti, of Cal-a-Vie in Vista, California, and a Skin Inc. magazine editorial advisory board member.
Pears also make a flavorful addition to salads, such as Canyon Ranch’s Winter Pear and Stilton Salad With Port Dressing and Toasted Walnuts; in salsas, salad dressings and chutney; and in soups, such as a Pear and Fennel Soup. Slice pears into wedges for use in a fruit and cheese tray—the juicy fruit mixes well with pungent cheeses, such as Stilton, chèvre or pecorino, and complements pork, lamb, duck and ham.
In the spa
The fragrance of pears has grown in popularity and is featured commonly in skin care products—especially in lotions and creams—because of its light, airy scent. Creative Nail’s Scentsations Pear & Dandelion Lotion softens and hydrates, while OPI’s Avojuice Pear Juicie contains soothing pear extract, avocado and aloe vera. Pevonia Botanica’s Ligne Sevactive–Dry Skin Line includes pear seed extract that helps to preserve the skin while hydrating, and KarenKlein Candles feature a Pear-Water Lily-Sicilian Lemon scent. Sattvic [Purity] in the New Age Health Spa Signature Teas collection is a wholesome blend of pear, blood orange, caffeinated green tea, rosehips and hibiscus.
The signature treatment at Aquanox Spa in the Trump International Sonesta Beach Resort in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, is its Aqua Therapy, which highlights a Starfruit Pear Body Lotion. Barely Pear Polish, the signature treatment at Spa Gaucin at The St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa in Dana Point, California, exfoliates the skin using a sugar and pear mix. Any one of these treatments would be enhanced by a refreshing glass of pear champagne and a pear wedge. Or, for spa packages lasting longer than three hours, offer clients a light pear salad with low-fat balsamic dressing.
Make it with pear
Have clients sip on a pear cocktail during a pear pedicure, or combine a fruity body treatment with caramelized poached pears. Whichever way you slice it, pears feature a tantalizing, tingly taste that is light, flavorful and ripe for all seasons.