The Asian Pear is the fruit of a tree originating in Asia. It is thought to be the ancestor of the common pear and belongs to the same family of fruits. Asian pears are also called sand pears, Chinese pears, and apple pears. There are more than 1,000 varieties of the Asian pear, most of which are round in shape and about the size of an apple. The thin, smooth edible skin may be yellow, green, or golden-brown in color. The juicy flesh is slightly sweet and mildly flavored, like the European pear; but with a crunchy texture like an apple.