Robijn

A real plot twist, this one. ¶ 

Robijn, small to medium sized, are a bit squat and modestly ribbed, many lopsided. The variegated blush, over yellow includes some very deep red streaks that are almost black. ¶ 

Some bear zig zags of russet. Small tan lenticel dots swim in the mix of red and orange. The peal has a dull shine and a greasy (that is, waxy) feel. The stem is slim. ¶ 

These apples have a sweet aroma, some with yeasty overtones. These are organic apples.

I bought four of them, and the first two were duds. But I base my review on last two, which were quite good.

Bite the apple

Third try! This one had crisp, juicy light-yellow flesh, medium-coarse grained. It has well-balanced light flavors that manage to hint at both spice and stone fruit, with just a little lively accent as if  sprinkled with lemon juice (but, not lemony).

The first sample was soft, while the second was quite crisp but with thin, undeveloped flavors that include a hint of carrot.

It took three tries but this one is very pleasant to eat.

No, that is not the promised plot twist. (It is barely even plot.)

Research

My rule is to hold off on learning what others say about an apple until I have recorded my own impressions. I do not want my reviews to be colored by others' experiences.

I'm very interested, though, to know those experiences, and to learn more, once I know what I think. I was astonished to learn that Robijn is a sport, or mutation, of Jonagold. 

Jonagold is a fine (and underrated!) apple but its pleasures are simple where Robijn is complex, and it is large where Robijn is small. 

Look at that photo again. I do not think that stem could support a full-sized Jonagold.

Most sports are very similar to their clone parent, but Robijn joins Lucky Rose Golden as having grown qualitatively far from its parent tree.

Some sources call Robijn a Dutch apple, but apparently it originated in Belgium.