Dark Mollie

I did a double take when I saw this apple for sale last week. Can you guess what it is?

It's a Mollie's Delicious, which usually wears a much lighter and partial blush and usually is for sale a month earlier.

This one is very dark red, well into Black Oxford or Arkansas Black territory. It has both purple and brown overtones that emphasize a network of rusty brown russet and light lenticels varying from small to large.

These were probably on the tree for much longer than normal but are very firm. Mine is ribbed and on the small side of large.

An earlier, better Mollie

The flesh is a medium-grained white, crisp with a little juice. Flavors are bland and sweet, corn syrup and candy corn, but with a faint bitter note that may be from the peel. It's a little chewy.

This is not as good as the earlier Mollies, and I think not as juicy, but similar enough that I do not doubt the ID.