A Hymn to the Quince
- Oct 22, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 28, 2025
Golden apples. The asteroid-like quince is the last fruit to ripen - the one that waits until the year breathes out. Hard and bitter when raw, it softens only through patience and care. Once sacred to Aphrodite, it remains a quiet symbol of transformation: if you take your time, you'll get your reward. It's not the best looking fruit in the orchard, but nature is not so bothered with looks. Perfect imperfection is sometimes just right.
The quince is a golden relic of autumn that hangs on the branch long after apples and pears have gotten too tired to hang on. When raw, they are as hard and chewy as a nightclub doorman, but when gentle heat is applied through a patient poach, they soften slowly, releasing a perfume that once scented whole salons.
