What is quince?
Quince is the fruit of Cydonia oblonga (Pyrus cydonia), a species belonging to the Rosaceae family. Native to Eurasia and Asia minor (Uzbekistan, Armenia, Turkey, Hungary, and surrounding areas).
What are the nutritional properties of quince?
100 g of quince (edible portion) provide 26 calories broken down as follows:
- 92% carbohydrates
- 5% protein
- 3% lipids
In particular, 100 g of quince contain:
- 84.3 g of water
- 0.3 g of protein
- 0.1 g of lipids
- 6.3 g of soluble sugars
- 5.9 g of fiber, of which: soluble fiber of 1.41 g and 4.51 g of insoluble fiber
- 2.2 mg of niacin
- 0.15 mg of riboflavin
- 0.08 mg of thiamine
- 5 micrograms of vitamin A (retinol equivalent)
- 4 mg of calcium
- 0.1 mg of iron
Quince is a source of:
- magnesium
- phosphorus
- potassium
- sodium
- zinc
- copper
- vitamin B6
- C vitamin
- folate
- catechins
- epicatechins
- limonene
When should you NOT eat quince?
Quince may interfere with the absorption of drugs taken orally. If in doubt it is good to seek advice from your doctor.
Seasonality of quince
The apple season and hence quince season is fall.
Possible benefits and drawbacks of quince
Quince is attributed with protective properties against cancer (due to the presence of antioxidants, especially catechins and epicatechin, and fibers). It also aids gastrointestinal problems (due to the presence of fibers, for example useful for combating diarrhea), weight loss, allergies (if applied on the skin it seems to help combat problems such as atopic dermatitis), inflammations (due to the presence of vitamin C) and stimulates the immune system (with the presence of antioxidants). The intake of antioxidants and vitamins may also help protect the health of the skin. Some people apply apple quince pastes directly on wounds or swellings. The minerals of quince help to protect the health of hair and to improve circulation.
Be aware that quince seeds contain cyanide traces.
