Caney Fork Limbertwig

This is an interesting looking apple by many metrics.

Large and round, with really no perceptible ribbing, the Caney Fork Limbertwig is a light lemon yellow about two-fifths blushed with the mottled orange red that you see.

Dark lenticels brood within the blush. They are raised bumps in the unblushed yellow.

And check out that long, skinny stem.

Not shown, around the side, are streaks of reddish brown, and there is a cap of coppery russet in the stem well.

The whole variegated thing has a kind of grubby look that is quite distinctive. The calyx is partially open and the apple is rock hard. It has a sweet smell with grass and yeast notes.

This apple stayed on the tree until early November. Its peel is a little waxy (all natural apple wax) with some gloss.

Taste test

Caney is crisp, dense, and hard. It's not in Arkansas Black territory, but still quite fine grained and not very juicy.

Caney's flavors are delicate and elusive, and a little starchy and dull: cane sugar and hints of grain, lemon, and chamomile.

This subdued fruit is what the old-timers called sub acid. If only there were a little more flavor to this substantial apple, it would be a real late-season treat. Possibly it will improve in storage.

As it is, not difficult to eat.

I have to leave a postscript to these notes. I have had a taste of this apple before, though not enough to write about, and it impressed me as a good bit better than this. But that was just a taste.

Caney Fork is an area in Kentucky.