New Pears 2026: Alka, Lukna & Triumf (Lithuania/Romania)

26 Jan

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Nordic Resilience and Southern Temperament: Introducing 'Alka', 'Lukna', and 'Triumf' Pears

While Romania dominates the market with its summer varieties offering earliness and color, Lithuania counters with resilience and unique flavor profiles. For the 2026 season (expected sale May/June), we have mixed a cocktail of the best of both worlds for you – a super-early Romanian variety and two autumn novelties from the Baltics.

“The Lithuanian 'Lukna' is one of the few pears in the world whose flavor profile contains delicate notes of juniper. It is a true gourmet experience that you won't find in a regular store.”

1. 'Triumf': The Summer Beauty from Romania

The variety 'Triumf' (from the Piteşti – Mărăcineni institute) is a dream come true for anyone who can't wait for the first harvest. Bred by crossing 'Napoca' x 'Beurré Giffard', it ripens as early as mid-July.

Why 'Triumf'?

It is a visually attractive pear – more than half of the yellow-green fruit is covered in vibrant red color. The flesh is white, fine, and typically "buttery," as befits a quality summer pear. The taste is very good and sweet.

Health and Pollination

A great advantage is its resistance to scab and white leaf spot. It is partially self-fertile, but to be sure, we recommend planting it near other varieties (e.g., 'Daciana'). Beware, the shelf life is short (up to 14 days), which is common for summer varieties.

2. 'Lukna': The Lithuanian Pearl with Unique Taste

From the Lithuanian Institute of Horticulture comes the variety 'Lukna' (registered in 2002). It is part of the Lithuanian national heritage, and the reason is simple – its taste.

Buttery with Juniper Notes

The fruits are large (around 180 g), round-pear-shaped, with distinct red stripes on the sunny side. The flesh is white, melting (buttery), and very juicy. What sets it apart is the taste – it is sweet, aromatic, and carries a unique, subtly perceptible juniper flavor.

Autumn Harvest

It is harvested in the second decade of September and lasts about 40 days. The tree is a good partner in the garden – it bears fruit annually and has good resistance to scab.

3. 'Alka': The Resilient Classic from the Baltics

The trio is completed by the Lithuanian variety 'Alka' (registered in 1984). It is a reliable variety that has found its place in orchards thanks to its resilience and versatility.

Sweet Certainty

It ripens at the turn of August and September. The fruits are larger (up to 160 g), green-yellow with brownish stripes. The flesh is semi-melting, juicy, and sweet. It is an ideal pear for fresh consumption but also for canning.

Growing Tips

'Alka' is resistant to scab and has good transportability. However, you must take into account that it enters bearing a little later (6th year) and may be prone to alternate bearing if not thinned.

Big Comparison: Which One to Choose?

Feature	Triumf	Lukna	Alka
Ripening	Mid-July	Mid-September	Turn of Aug/Sept
Taste	Sweet, buttery	Juniper, sweet	Sweet, aromatic
Storage	14 days	40 days	2-3 weeks
Origin	Romania	Lithuania	Lithuania

Conclusion

The combination of Romanian earliness and Lithuanian taste creates a perfect set for every pear lover. 'Triumf' will bring you joy already in the summer, 'Alka' will delight at the end of the holidays, and 'Lukna' will guide you through autumn with its unique aroma.