Interesting facts

"Quince for the newly married pair, brings love and joy and children fair", goes a traditional German rhyme.

In ancient times the quince was also regarded as a symbol of happiness, love and fertility. Thus, according to Athens law, the young bride had to eat a quince on the threshold of the bridal chamber, in the belief that the wife would bear her husband as many children as the quince contained seeds. We hope for the bride's sake that the quince was cooked!

The fruit is also reputed to help against drunkenness: "Eaten while drinking, quince prevents the vapors of the wine from rising to the head" (Simon Seth, physician in the 11th century AD).

Incidentally the name quince is derived from the Greek "Kydomalon". Kydonia is a town in Crete and "malum" means apple. Kydomalon is thus the apple from Kydonia. Kydomalon then became "Cydonium", from which the English name "quince" developed (ky = qui).