What is that weird feeling you get in your mouth while eating a pear?

I think I get what you mean. Like that really uncomfortable feeling that you just want to rub off? I don’t like it either, I’m not sure what it’s called though.

You know what’s worse? When I grind two teeth together – it’s like nails on a chalkboard. It’s actually so uncomfortable I get goose bumps. (shudder)

The sandpaper effect. Yes, I know what you mean.

I dunno
Never had a pear.

Breast milk? Oh you said a pear….

The gritty sensation comes from the especially thick walls of cells that make up the pear flesh.

I know exactly what you mean – I’ve tried to come up with a word for it before, with no success. I also wish I knew what to do to counter it. It’s like the mouthfeel equivalent of nails on a chalkboard.

@dappled_leaves Yeah :( I love pears so much! I buy them all the time, and they’re always so delicious but….that texture! It’s not always very strong, but sometimes it’s like an overpowering element to the fruit and it’s hardly enjoyable. There has gotta be a word for it.

If I understand you right, you’re not talking about the texture, as in the little granules that you find in some pears, but that physical sensation that feels like the lining of your mouth is “drying up” and contracting. If that’s what you’re describing, that property is called is “astringency”. It’s an actual chemical alteration of the proteins in the mucous lining of the mouth, causing the ling’s secretions to dry up and the tissues to contract.

In most foods, astringency is caused by chemicals called phenols and polyphenols, usually tannins. Pears naturally contains lots of these compounds, especially in the skin.

@thorninmud Thank you so fucking much.