Jonathan apple, from plant.photos.net
When I was growing up, we had the green Granny Smith for pies, Red Delicious, that got huge, and Golden Delicious, which I think is a little wimpy for an apple. And since I lived in Missouri, we had my favorite–the Jonathan. Its sweet-tart crunch defines the apple taste for me. My dad used to get a bushel of Jonathans and we’d snack on them until Christmas.
After we moved to Texas, I missed the taste of Jonathans because until recently, they weren’t stocked in the stores. I felt sorry for my friends who’d never eaten a Jonathan and thought the sweet, watery Red Delicious with its tough, bitter skin was what an apple tasted like. For years, I ate my apples baked in pies.
© Andrew Khritin, dreamstime.com
And then one fall, I was shopping in a ritzy grocery store about twenty miles from my home and there they were–bags of Jonathan apples. I gasped. At last my children would taste real apples! I anticipated their little eyes wide with wonder as the mighty Jonathan zapped their taste buds. But since they were teenaged boys what I got was, “Mom, chill. It tastes like an apple.”
So, what’s your favorite apple?
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I’ve never heard of Jonathon apples.
Honestly I’ve never figured out the differences between apples yet, but I can say that the Galas are good to eat (though I may be biased having grown up on them, I’m a Kiwi)
Even Galas are a mix with the pesky Golden Delicious and J. H. Kidd’s Orange Red. We don’t get the Orange Red here. Yet.
My favorite brands are the Granny Smith and the Royal Gala. I like both for their flavors and textures. But I recently found a new local Pennsylvania apple that I love the flavor of. It’s called a “Mutsu”. It’s nothing at all fancy or pretty looking, but as an eating apple right from the tree it’s fabulous! I think it’s a hybred that was created in Japan and brought to the United States, hence the name. Now I want to go for a ride to my favorite produce picking place to buy a bag full. Thanks for planting the “seed”.
-Pam
Haven’t seen that one, but there are definitely new ones this year. Pricey, though.
I like the Jarrett & the Meador. Yeah, you’ve never heard of them. That’s because they’re heritage varieties. There was (& may still be, but he’s at least partially retired) a gentleman who lived about 45 minutes from me who collected, grew & sold heritage apple varieties. He even wrote a book about it.
He had a c.1850 nursery catalog that carried over 400 apple varieties. And I’m not talking Gold Delicious vs Red Delicious; I’m talking Granny Smith vs Red Delicious. Those trees were adapted for slightly different areas and climates (sandy soil or loamy, mild winter or early cold snap).
They also ripened at different times; from July to early November. There’s even one variety that was inedible off the tree. You couldn’t even cook it because they were like rocks. You’d pick the apples, then put them on trays of straw in the cellar. About Christmas or so, they’d have bletted enough (that’s a technical term for rot) to use in recipes.
Bletted is a new word. I like it. Must find way to use in next book . . .
I like Pink Lady. I had never had one until last fall and it was scrumptious.
I saw those, but haven’t tasted one yet. I just looked it up and guess what? It’s another Golden Delicious cross. This time with Lady Williams from Australia. That Golden Delicious sure gets around.
In defense of the Red Delicious, it is my favorite. My youngest daughter has always loved Granny Smith’s. She gets all kinds of apple goodies from her mother-in-law because she works for a candy company. She is always bringing home caramel apples and candied apples. Oh and by the way, I live in Missouri.
Caramel apples . . . yum . . .
I’m a big fan of the old-school Winesap apple, which they used to grow near my NJ hometown. Sweet, tart, and crisp – my fave.
I can’t stand those mealy red delicious, and golden’s are too sweet for me. I used to love the McIntosh, but they don’t seem crisp enough anymore.
Good varieties for my taste: Fuji, Gala, and new Honeycrisp (though they’re a bit sweet). Granny Smith, for baking.
Yes, I take my apples seriously.
As well you should!
Oh, I love the Pink Lady apples and am a huge fan of the Honey Crisp. It’s about time for those to show up in stores around here. Or at least the Piggly Wiggly.
For me, it’s a Macoun — love em — hard, tangy, and nicely red. We even bought our own tree for the yard.
Empires and Cortlands come next, especially right off the tree — I like crisp, red apples that have a nice tart taste.
I think I have to go apple picking this weekend now!
Pie on Sunday…
Sam
Piggly Wiggly! Hee! Can you imagine a board of directors’ meeting? “The annual meeting of the Piggly Wiggly Board of Directors is in session.” I wonder if they can say that with a straight face.
I digress. Yes, hard, tangy, and nicely red. Hmmm. Sounds like a new Blaze motto to me.
I quote Colleen Thompson (and I often do, cause she’s such a sharp lady).
“Good varieties for my taste: Fuji, Gala, and new Honeycrisp (though they’re a bit sweet). Granny Smith, for baking.”
Except I haven’t tasted a Honeycrisp as yet, but I’ll go looking for one now.
Had no idea there were so many types of apples, many that I’ve not heard of.
Fun post, Heather.
Have you seen Jazz apples? I can’t find any information about them and haven’t tried them yet.
I’m a fan of Gala and Pink Lady apples. Yum!
I’m not sure if this is just an NZ apple, but they have this small red apples called Braeburns – tart and sweet, not unlike a Jonathon. Jonathons and Granny Smiths were my favorites for years, but it’s so hard to get a nice apple these days, one that isn’t all powdery from being on cold store for an eon. We get our Braeburns from the organic place when they’re in season and they are magnificent.
We do have braeburns. I see another vote for Pink Lady. They’re $2.79 a pound! However, I’m going to try one.
The Jazz apples are good, too.
Ooo…apples! I love them! My favorites are Jonathon and McIntosh. I just bought a bag of Paula Red’s and they are delicious! I tried a Honey Crisp once and didn’t like it. I also don’t like Golden Delicious. Red Delicious are ok but if nothing else is on sale I will buy them.
I have a question for everyone. What does everybody pay for a bag of apples? The going rate in Indiana is $3.99.
That sounds close in Houston. It depends on the type. Small red delicious bags (3 pounds) might be less than $3.00 if they’re running a special. I’ll have to check.
Someone else knows Jonathans!