The Starkeys are particularly good this year, the way the Baldwins were last year. So I thought I'd taste one again.
Mine is large and oblate, not very ribbed, but lopsided. Viewed from above, it's an oval that suggests a capital letter "D."
Fat tan lenticels are prominent in the blush, many around the base as if they
have settled there.
The apple is crisp and good, medium-fine grained with some fine flavors.
The tastes are nicely on the sweet end of balanced. Within that are cream soda and berries. There is also a little nutty grain and a floral quality.
The off-yellow flesh is denser and more of a meal than a McIntosh, though Starkey nonetheless has some similar qualities.
It's sweet and good without cloying or interfering with the flavors.
More About Starkey
Starkey is enjoying a new popularity thanks to the work of John Bunker, who tracked this variety down about 25 years ago. It originated on the farm of Moses Starkey in Vasselboro, Maine, in the early 19th century.
Various sources describe Starkey as a Ribston Pippin x Black Oxford cross. Maybe.
According to Bunker, Starkey, though a fine snack fresh off the tree, reaches its true eating peak around Christmas. Alas, I ate both of mine in September.
No promises, but perhaps we shall see about that.
Links- My first Starkey review has another photo and more tasting notes, even if I did crib from it above.
- Ribston Pippin x Black Oxford
- John Bunker, apple sleuth
- What I mean when I say "taste one again."
When we spotted Starkeys in the market, your original review got me interested, so I tried them. Very nice indeed.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got some, Pam! Likely they will be done this week.
DeleteGot a couple of Starkey apples last month at a farmer's market, told they were grown in East Brookfield, MA (or was it North Brookfield?). I thought they had a very nice old style apple taste. I'd buy them again next season.
ReplyDeleteGrafted Starkey scion I purchased from Fedco Trees on to a Golden Delicious tree the spring of 2017, Got the one and only apple from it today. WOW! What a fantastic apple! Can't wait for more next year as the scaffold has a lot of bossom spurs on it this year.
ReplyDelete