Varieties of Dessert Apples

[HRH2009]

I usually buy Jazz or Pink Lady by choice when getting apples. Just recently I noticed the variety McKintosh also on the shelves at Morrisons. It was priced above both Jazz and Pink Lady so I imagined it was a top quality premier apple and decided to try it.

The apple looks superb unquestionably, but top quality?? The flesh was of a fairly soft texture with a reasonable flavour. However, the skin was tough as 'old boots'. Has anybody else found this?

[adsk]

McIntosh Reds have been around for a long time. They are particularly popular in Scotland and easier to get there. They are a nice apple but they have become less popular with the supermarkets because they bruise easily.

However, at this time of year you should be buying English apples - there are so many to discover. You've missed the early varieties such as discovery and early windsor. If they are still available I got a bag of Red Pippin from Tesco last week and they were superb. Cox (especially if they pass the ripeness test - pips rattle when you shake the apple) are hard to beat.

For English apples Sainsburys and Waitrose tend to have the best choice. Sainsburys organic apples are worth looking out for - they often stock more unusual varieties some of which are outstanding but buy when you can because some varieties are only available for a couple of weeks.


I only buy the Pink Lady apples etc once English apples are no longer available i.e March onwards.

If you want to find out more about apple varieties this is a great site: http://www.orangepippin.com/apples

Edited by adsk on Friday 13th November 21:52

Edited by adsk on Friday 13th November 21:53

[HRH2009]

[quote=adsk]McIntosh Reds have been around for a long time. They are particularly popular in Scotland and easier to get there. They are a nice apple but they have become less popular with the supermarkets because they bruise easily.

However, at this time of year you should be buying English apples - there are so many to discover. You've missed the early varieties such as discovery and early windsor. If they are still available I got a bag of Red Pippin from Tesco last week and they were superb. Cox (especially if they pass the ripeness test - pips rattle when you shake the apple) are hard to beat.

For English apples Sainsburys and Waitrose tend to have the best choice. Sainsburys organic apples are worth looking out for - they often stock more unusual varieties some of which are outstanding but buy when you can because some varieties are only available for a couple of weeks.


I only buy the Pink Lady apples etc once English apples are no longer available i.e March onwards.

If you want to find out more about apple varieties this is a great site: http://www.orangepippin.com/apples

Thanks for your reply and the link to the website.

We have a couple of apple trees of our own for early in the season, far too many this year.

I shall try your Cox's test next time I am buying that variety.