Many years ago, the Red Delicious apple was roughly 10 cm in diameter, crisp, and had an amazing sweet rose-apple flavor. The typical store-bought Red Delicious is now twice the size, half the...
Many years ago, the Red Delicious apple was roughly 10 cm in diameter, crisp, and had an amazing sweet rose-apple flavor.
The typical store-bought Red Delicious is now twice the size, half the flavor, and usually mealy from being stored too long. It's had further cross-breeding for size and long-keeping. It's produced in enormous quantities, doused with chemicals to prevent fruit drop and delay ripening. McIntosh is another variety that's been abused until it's no longer good eating.
As Galas and other new varieties become popular, expect more of the same.
Apples have huge variety in nature; they cross-breed and mutate promiscuously. If you're really curious about the history of apples and the amazing range of flavors in heirloom varieties, visit: http://www.christmascovefarm.com
They have about 250 varieties in the collection, some dating back to the 16th century. Cider from their mixed pressing tastes like nothing else in the world.
[Full disclosure: My first job, after babysitting, was planting trees at a local U-Pick apple farm. Row upon row of Red and Golden Delicious grafted onto dwarf tree stock, ready to be dosed with all the then-fashionable chemicals. I grew up on 20 acres of abandoned apple farm, and learned the taste of antique varieties from picking the few apples on those 70+ year old trees.]
Are there ways we can try the original Red Delicious apples today? Oh my goodness. Is that what heirloom means?? I've always wondered, but never enough to google it, i guess. 🙄
Are there ways we can try the original Red Delicious apples today?
Oh my goodness. Is that what heirloom means?? I've always wondered, but never enough to google it, i guess. 🙄
Commercial apples are almost always cloned stock, grafted onto dwarf variety trunks so they can be picked more easily. With apples, it's hard to define what "heirloom" means, because apples don't...
Commercial apples are almost always cloned stock, grafted onto dwarf variety trunks so they can be picked more easily.
With apples, it's hard to define what "heirloom" means, because apples don't really breed true easily. When they bloom, pollinators come from far and wide. The resulting seeds could be anything, including potential crosses with crabapples, roses and hawthorns.
Christmas Cove Farm goes to considerable lengths to clone from known varieties, and their Red Delicious seems close to what I remember as a kid.
And here's more than you ever wanted to know about apples: https://harvesttotable.com/how_to_grow_apples/ The important thing to note is that apples require cold winters and moderate summers -...
Honeycrisp is my favorite currently accessible apple. Winesap I think is my real favorite. Opal was a nice one I got to try when the grocery store carried it.
Honeycrisp is my favorite currently accessible apple. Winesap I think is my real favorite. Opal was a nice one I got to try when the grocery store carried it.
All I can say is it took long enough. Red Delicious apples are nowhere near what their name would suggest.
I never liked Red Delicious. Seems massively overhyped. Much prefer a nice Honeycrisp, and if I'm feeling saucy, a Pink Lady.
Many years ago, the Red Delicious apple was roughly 10 cm in diameter, crisp, and had an amazing sweet rose-apple flavor.
The typical store-bought Red Delicious is now twice the size, half the flavor, and usually mealy from being stored too long. It's had further cross-breeding for size and long-keeping. It's produced in enormous quantities, doused with chemicals to prevent fruit drop and delay ripening. McIntosh is another variety that's been abused until it's no longer good eating.
As Galas and other new varieties become popular, expect more of the same.
Apples have huge variety in nature; they cross-breed and mutate promiscuously. If you're really curious about the history of apples and the amazing range of flavors in heirloom varieties, visit:
http://www.christmascovefarm.com
They have about 250 varieties in the collection, some dating back to the 16th century. Cider from their mixed pressing tastes like nothing else in the world.
[Full disclosure: My first job, after babysitting, was planting trees at a local U-Pick apple farm. Row upon row of Red and Golden Delicious grafted onto dwarf tree stock, ready to be dosed with all the then-fashionable chemicals. I grew up on 20 acres of abandoned apple farm, and learned the taste of antique varieties from picking the few apples on those 70+ year old trees.]
Are there ways we can try the original Red Delicious apples today?
Oh my goodness. Is that what heirloom means?? I've always wondered, but never enough to google it, i guess. 🙄
Commercial apples are almost always cloned stock, grafted onto dwarf variety trunks so they can be picked more easily.
With apples, it's hard to define what "heirloom" means, because apples don't really breed true easily. When they bloom, pollinators come from far and wide. The resulting seeds could be anything, including potential crosses with crabapples, roses and hawthorns.
Christmas Cove Farm goes to considerable lengths to clone from known varieties, and their Red Delicious seems close to what I remember as a kid.
Honeycrisp is the obvious GOAT.
You have great tastes, my friend!
And here's more than you ever wanted to know about apples:
https://harvesttotable.com/how_to_grow_apples/
The important thing to note is that apples require cold winters and moderate summers - another potential climate change casualty.
Honeycrisp is my favorite currently accessible apple. Winesap I think is my real favorite. Opal was a nice one I got to try when the grocery store carried it.