Friday, August 27, 2010

Akane

Pronounced "ah-kah-nay." This large apple is a very pretty bright red over yellow, slightly conical and slightly ribbed. It is decorated with irregular small light lenticels.

Note that my sample was waxed, as I bought it in a supermarket while visiting Seattle. Perhaps for that reason, the fruit had no aroma at all.

Akane's dense white flesh was moderately yielding and had a good balance of sweet and tart and generally light and generic flavors but also a suggestion of a vinous quality and hints of kiwi and, towards the finish, white wine.

This is a chewy apple with a chewy peel, filling and not super juicy.

Akane's delicate flavor and substantial texture are appealing, but I feel there is a little something missing. Its main flavors are not assertive, on the other hand it has a subtle kick that is interesting and unusual.

I think this one would add an interesting note to salads, though unlike the perennial Cortland, often pressed into that service, Akane browns rapidly.

Akane is a modern variety from Japan, crossing Jonathan with Worcester Pearmain. It is in turn a parent of Sansa, which shares some qualities and which I prefer.

Update: I have a new (though similar) review of a better sample.

8 comments:

  1. You gotta have this apple fresh off the tree.
    Eaten this way, its anything but bland.
    The flavor is lively, fresh, tasting sweetly of fruit punch and a spicy finish from the Jonathan.
    Please try another, its very good.

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    1. Eric, I believe you. My problem is finding fresh ripe samples. I had to travel across the country to get this one.

      I'll stay on the lookout.

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    2. Come to Colorado now, they are wonderful right off the tree. Eric's comment above is the perfect description. They are smallish this year but packed with flavor.

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    3. @ Anonymous: I don't know why these are not more common around here.

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  2. Akane apples are very delicious. I have a tree at my place and my parents have two. They love the NW weather (SW Washington). They are my favorite, tied with Red Gravenstein. Fresh from the tree and cooled in a refrigerator is the way I like them.

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    1. I live in Seattle. My tree is very productive but fruit is riddled with worms and larvae the last few years. I plan to spray Neem Oil in the next few days during dormancy. The texture seemed mealy to me but I have a hard time knowing when to harvest and I think the apples needed to be picked sooner. Before I know it, apples are dropping from the tree.

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  3. Thanks to you, the photo, and your responding comments, I've now identified the ugly, neglected apple tree in my yard when I bought the place as Akane!

    I also live in the Seattle area and the tree puts out early apples that drop almost as soon as they red up which meant for the last 3 years I was competing with my dog for getting to the few poorly, mealy apples the tree produced... until the PUD came and cut it away from the wires.. .then the thing went nuts and started making new growth and apples like crazy. Last year I got wise and knocked a few off with a long stick and this year I'm buying a picker and learning everything I can about taking care of apple trees :)

    I really don't care for mealy apples at all but the flavor was nice enough to entice me to eat a few anyway and most made fantastic apple rings in the dehydrator.

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    1. Wylfenne, I am very pleased to have been of service! Thanks for letting me know.

      I hope you can get your tree to bear fruit that is not mealy.

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