Apple-shaped
- Characteristics
- Rounded fruit

Sorba is the fruit of the service tree, traditionally allowed to soften after harvest before eating.
| Apple-shaped | Pear-shaped | |
|---|---|---|
| Characteristics | Rounded fruit | More elongated fruit |
Fondazione Archeologia Arborea describes yellow-red skin becoming dark brown as the fruit softens. The brown, slightly acid pulp is the eating stage to understand, rather than expecting the crisp bite of an apple.
Taste a fully softened sorba on its own before serving its pulp beside plain yogurt. Ammezzimento is the traditional post-harvest softening process; a hard, astringent fruit is not yet at the same eating stage.