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Gravenstein is the
Macoun of
August.
These are not quite at peak where I live, but still worth seeking out.
Old-world Gravenstein took root in California and elsewhere. It brings mid-harvest authority in mid August and is one of the best things going right now.Gravenstein comes in two colors (mostly) green and (mostly) red.
I almost said that it comes in two flavors, but the truth is that I have never been able to locate any meaningful difference in taste between the original Grav and its sporty red sibling.
When not fully ripe, Gravenstein sometimes displays a faint metallic note.
Not tasting that this summer, though the pips of my apples are still mostly
white—a sign that the fruit is not yet at peak.
Links:
- Gravenstein
- Red Gravenstein
- Metallic note
- White pips
- Macoun
- Another view (worth reading)
I bought some Gravenstein at a local farmer's market this week. Some of them were rather mushy. The famous California Gravensteins are from up north, around Sebastopol, but the grower at the local market was from the San Joaquin valley, which is a much hotter climate. I've heard that Gravenstein does well near the coast down here in Southern California.
ReplyDeleteYeah, a little late for Grav at this point.
DeleteBut depending on where you are, others should be coming in to their own. EG Macs here in NE.
Because of your site, I have finally identified the apple tree that I have had for approximately 27 years! We bought a homestead from the 1800's and there was an apple tree already there. It seemed to be very old. We moved so I dug several starts from suckers and got one to live. My present "new" tree is about 20 years old now. It was absolutely loaded this year. I have always tried to wait until September to pick the apples, but they seem to rot before then, so I thought I was picking them a little green. Now I know they are a late July or August apple! It looks exactly like the Gravenstein, inside and out, and the flavor is as described also. It's great for fresh eating and makes wonderful pies and apple crisp. Thank you for featuring the Gravestein apple! Charla from southcentral Kansas.
ReplyDeleteIt's gratifying when this happens, thanks for letting me know! Coincidentally, just this morning I was visiting a friend in New Hampshire who asked me if I could identify the fruit from an old tree on her property. It was (probably) Gravenstein.
DeleteThey aren't quire ripe here yet, I think, but I am looking forward to getting some this year.