There's a world of apples out there, beyond Macintosh and Granny Smith and Red Delicious. I just ordered my annual sampler pack from Apple Source. They'll send you a divided box of 12 perfectly picked and packed apples, with a chart like on the back of the Whitman Sampler chocolate box so you know what you're eating. Side by side, the many varieties are surprisingly diverse and differently delectable. And, they have fabulous, whimsical, evocative names. Like these thirteen:
- Black Gilliflower
- Dr. Matthews
- Gold Coast
- Grimes Golden
- Hidden Rose
- Moyer's Prize
- Newtown Pippin
- Kandil Sinap
- Pitmaston Pineapple
- Razor Russet
- Turley Winesap
- Ashmead's Kernel
- Esopus Spitzenberg
I ordered the Antique Sampler, so I don't know what I'm going to get. But whatever turns up, it'll be fun. And tasty. And different. And not Red Delicious.
Goodness I haven't heard of most of these varieties! Hope you enjoy some yummy goodness when they come.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many dif . types of apples.
ReplyDeleteI have a co-worker who brings me apples. No clue what variety they are, but they rock.
ReplyDeleteLast week, I just cored and sliced them and cooked them down in brown sugar and brandy. Used the immersion blender and made some killer applesauce....
I wish I could come out there for the apple tasting, but yes, in February, I will cook a feast in PW....
the absolute best apple I have ever had is the Honey Crisp apple directly off the tree in the orchards in Washington State! YUM!
ReplyDeleteI just discovered Honey Crisp apples, as well. By FAR the best apple ever.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, admittedly, I have never tried a single one on your list.
hmmm ... apples! I favor Pink Lady and Jona Gold, and from time to time a good old Granny Smith ;)
ReplyDeleteBut the best thing to do with apples is applestrudel. hmm...
Happy TT!
Julia
Pink Lady is darn tasty, which now that I think about it, sounds like a very dirty thing to say. Ahem.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your apples!
I've always thought Red Delicious apples were misnamed. Red Bleh is more like it.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your antique apples. Mmmm.
Oh man oh man I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE your topic! If you ever want some info on apples come on by AnyApples and click the link "An Apple A Day" where I give you the low down on over 100 different varieties!!
ReplyDeleteHappy TT :P
I love empires and roxbury russets.
ReplyDeleteI once read a story (and not a very good one) about a couple who named each of their children after a different variety of apple.
ReplyDeleteI think the apples I like best are crabapples. The kind that you think are too sour to eat.
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ReplyDeleteOoohh, this sounds wonderful! I love apples--I might have to try such a sampler myself.
ReplyDeleteWe have an Esopus Spitzenberg in our backyard, one of four I planted the year Z. was born. It's very small, still, but it did fruit this year, just one apple--and it was gone when I went to pick it!!! So I still don't know what they taste like. Nu?
ReplyDeleteI like Pink Ladies myself - they don't sound quite as exotic as these ones, though.
ReplyDeleteSpitzenbergs were the favorite apple of Thomas Jefferson! This according to our favorite apple guy at the Marin farmers' market. New to us this year--from the same vendor--are Hoover and Arkansas Black. Tart, crisp, delectable. If you see any, you must buy some.
ReplyDeleteAnother Pink Lady fan here!
ReplyDeleteThe kids had an apple tasting at school...all varieties. How neat is that.
Julie
Using My Words
These sound ahem... interesting.
ReplyDeleteBut my taste buds promised to be faithful to Jonah Golds. Yum!
Those are some lovely names.
ReplyDeleteI went apple picking a couple weekends ago, and have no idea what types we picked. The orchard grows over 50 varieties, and I know we got at least a dozen different types, but the trees weren't labelled.
mmmmm. Honeycrisp is a variety that hit it big up here a couple of years ago. It is the most delicious apple I have ever eaten. Definitely not a cooker.
ReplyDeleteWhy look, your other commenters have already said this.
I like Macs, Spartans and Paula Reds for cooking. And nothing beats a Mac when it comes to sharp cheese or apple pie.
Yum! I haven't heard of many of those, but hey, anything but Red Delicious, please.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of any of these. As you say, there's a whole world outside Macs and Granny Smiths.
ReplyDeleteI love that!
ReplyDeletei just tried a Honey Crisp from the farmers market last week and it reminded me that I need to branch out. It was awesome.
I didn't read all the comments, so maybe someone already said this:
ReplyDeleteYou should find the book 'Apples to Oregon.' It's about a man who takes his apples (and pears and grapes and cherries and...) across the Oregon Trail. It's a children's book, very funny. All his kids are named after apples. The main character is named Delicious!
http://www.amazon.com/Apples-Oregon-Slightly-Narrative-Cherries/dp/0689847696
Oh my! These names sound fictitious, something read in a great children's fantasy book of some kind. What were they like?
ReplyDeleteQuick Guide to Apples - Cooking and Eating