Nashi pears are sweet on the tree and are eaten crisp. They are generally are not baked in pies or made into jams because they have a high water content and a crisp grainy texture very different from the buttery European varieties. Also Nashi pears are not as intensely sweet having a more refreshing light taste. It is not a cross between apples and pears as common names like apple pear may suggest but its shape and crisp texture are reminiscent of apples.