D’Anjou vs. Bartlett Pears: What’s the Difference?

Have you ever bitten into a juicy and delicious pear and wondered, “What exactly am I eating?” Pear varieties don’t get nearly as much attention as their apple counterparts, who are often dressed up with trademarked names and advertising campaigns. Pears are the humble heroes of the office fruit bowl—but they deserve to be known! So, let’s dig into D’Anjou vs. Bartlett pears, two of the most popular varieties that every pear lover should recognize. You can find both in The FruitGuys’ office fruit mixes.

Meet the Pears: D’Anjou vs. Bartlett at a Glance

D’Anjou and Bartlett pears are both beloved for different reasons.

• The Bartlett is a favorite for its sweet flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture. It’s a classic teardrop shape and starts green, then ripens to a pretty butter yellow. California, Oregon, and Washington all grow delicious Bartlett pears. It’s a seasonal treat that appears for a relatively short time in the summer and fall.

• The D’Anjou (aka Anjou) is a squatter, more oval pear and comes in green or red varieties that don’t change color as they ripen. It grows in the Pacific Northwest and has a mild flavor and firmer texture. Snackers love the d’Anjou for its staying power: It has a long season and stores and ships well, so you can enjoy this fruit for most of the year.

What Do D’Anjou and Bartlett Pears Taste Like?

The Bartlett pear is known for its super-sweet flavor, and many people consider it the best pear of the bunch! Miguel Robles, a California-based produce buyer for The FruitGuys, said, “Bartletts are one of my favorite fruits of the year. A ripe yellow Bartlett pear tastes so good—but since I live in California, I might be biased.”

Here’s a quick breakdown of the flavor of a D’Anjou vs. Bartlett pear​.

D’Anjou Pear Flavor

• Subtly sweet
• Medium juiciness
• Lemon-lime flavor notes

Bartlett Pear Flavor

• Intensely sweet
• Very juicy
• Classic pear flavor with floral notes

Texture & Ripeness: Why These Pears Feel So Different

Ripe Bartlett pears have a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture. They’re perfect for snacking or slicing over dishes like salads and oatmeal. You can tell that a Bartlett is ripe when its skin turns from green to warm yellow and it gives a bit near the stem.

D’Anjou pears soften a little as they ripen, but they stay comparatively firm and don’t change color. They’re great for cooking and make a tasty snack, especially if you like a firmer bite. You can use the same stem trick to check for ripeness, but they won’t get as soft as the tender Bartlett.

How to Store Pears So They Taste Their Best

Farmers pick and sell their pears firm, so you’ll need to ripen them at room temperature until they give near the stem. Keep them away from heat and sunlight for the best results. You can slow ripening by popping them in the fridge, and once they’re ripe, they’ll keep refrigerated for up to five days.

When They’re in Season: D’Anjou vs. Bartlett Pears

Seasonality is one of the biggest differences between D’Anjou and Bartlett pears. California Bartletts have a relatively short and sweet season. Orchard farmers near the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta typically start picking pears in mid-July, then the harvest moves to the mountain orchards in Lake and Mendocino counties, where Bartletts are in season through October or early November. The Washington Bartlett harvest begins a bit later, in mid-August.

D’Anjous have a complementary season. The Washington harvest starts in mid-September, and since they store so well, you can enjoy them all the way through the winter and spring.

“D’Anjou pears are a staple; we run them in office fruit deliveries pretty much all year,” Miguel said.

The FruitGuys sources California Bartlett pears from our friends at Scully Packing and Washington D’Anjous from the grower-owned co-op Chelan Fresh. We also occasionally add imported pears to our mixes to help bridge the gap between seasons.

Which Pear Is Better for Snacking at Work?

Bartlett and D’Anjou pears are both great for snacking. If you want intense flavor and serious juice, the Bartlett should be your top pick. For a firmer bite and a milder flavor experience, go for the D’Anjou.

Nutrition Benefits of Both Pear Varieties

Like all fruits, Bartlett and D’Anjou pears are as nutritious as they are delicious. They’re full of important nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, including:

• Fiber
• Vitamin C
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Phospherous
• Potassium

Combined, these nutrients keep your heart and blood sugar levels healthy, improve your digestion, strengthen your bones, keep you energized, and more.

The Bottom Line: D’Anjou vs. Bartlett Pears

Ultimately, this doesn’t need to be a D’Anjou vs. Bartlett pear competition: Both have a place in the fruit bowl, and they’re great to eat with your office breakfast or as a pick-me-up between meetings. When in doubt, go for what’s in season—or what came in your fruit delivery from The FruitGuys! You’ll often find pears in our Harvest and Season’s Best mixes.