The English Apple
Many people enter a grocery store and head right for the bright red apples when shopping for them. Others in that group try out a few green ones. However, beyond this, many don't know the true delight of other varieties of apples. Why is this so important? The English apple is slowly succumbing to other blander imports.
A great part of the culture and history in the UK involves growing apples. They've yielded a menagerie of tasty, unique varieties. For example, the Cox's Orange Pippin's strange, yet fascinating, color and aromatic flavor make it a favorite among those who dare to step out of their red and green comfort zone.
Today, the amount of locally produced apples are decreasing in, in store quantity. These timeless treasures that the English have prided themselves, on throughout their history, have been taken over by saccharine-tasting foreign imports. Because of this, an interest in the older varieties of English apples has been revived. However, consumer demand for home grown English apples, has yet to be fully appreciated over imported apples with their accustomed taste. British farmers are still struggling to get their domestic apples back in the stores.
What Does the English Apple Hold for Us?
If you have a taste for more refined, unique flavors, many of the English apple varieties would suit you nicely. The Ashmead's Kernel, a high-quality desert apple, is firm and juicy and yellowish-green with a beautiful russet coating. Bramley's Seedling is tangy and excellent for cooking. It also boasts a greenish-yellow skin, but with light red striping. The Cox's Orange Pippin mentioned before holds a rich, nutty flavor beyond its blushing yellow skin.
For a high quality cider, the Egremont Russet, it is small, with a yellow russet skin and keeps for long periods given the high acidity. These are just a few of the dozens of varieties grown in the United Kingdom, not to mention the hybrids formed there. Try a few, find the flavor that you love, and you will never return to mass produced apples again.
Because the apple is the most popular fruit to bake with, it is guaranteed to have an abundance of recipes. We are all familiar with the tasty apple pie and the guilty pleasure of an apple crumble, but many are not aware of the hundreds of recipes the apple holds within. Take Apple Charlotte, for example. This posh dessert is extremely thrifty but delightful. Crustless slices of bread encircle a rich apple pudding and perhaps custard.
Another of the unique apple recipes is the Friar's Omelette. (See recipe here: Friar's Omelette The name may make you wary at first, but you are sure to enjoy this unusual treat. This low cost recipe, bakes, apples that are spiced between layers of bread in a egg mix. Plus, who can forget Charles Dickens' favorite snack, the Kentish Apple and Cheese Pie - this particular recipe can be called a pie, not savory or a dessert. The cheese is sometimes baked into the pastry, but just under the crust brings out the flavor of the apples. Many more recipes can be found through research or even just talking to your friends. You will probably be surprised at the plethora of ways to bake a single apple.
Kentish Apple and Cheese Pie
6 oz puff or shortcrust pastry
1 ½ lb cooking apples, peeled, cored and sliced thickly
3-4 oz sugar
3-4 cloves
Small pinch nutmeg
½ cup water
4 oz cheddar, sliced
Set the oven to 425F or Gas 7. Using half of the apples, put a layer in a greased pie dish. Sprinkle half the sugar on top. Lay the rest of the apples in the dish and put the cloves into some of the slices. Sprinkle with the sugar, nutmeg, and water, then lay the cheese on top.
Roll out the pastry and cover the dish with it. Brush with some milk and bake for 40-45 minutes.
The unusual flavor and the English apple arrives from the stress that the climate places on the trees. The United Kingdom's fickle weather and varied topography make it a difficult place to grow apple trees. Knowing this, we can see why British farmers are so frustrated with the invasion of foreign imports. Though, while a challenge to grow apple trees in the United Kingdom, the stress of the climate produces the burst of flavor in each apple.
According to all this, what does the English apple really hold for England and the rest of the world? Is just one apple species so important? Many would stand with me when I say that this dilemma is not only about an apple, but several things in particular. To Great Britain, apples are more than just an apple; they are a heritage, an income, and a delight. To the world, an English apple is a treasure and an unusual and timeless flavor to be enjoyed.
The tree originated in western asia where its wild ancestor, the alma, is still found today. There are more than 7,500 known cultivars of apples
http://www.copellafruitjuices.co.uk
The English Apple related articles from the blogosphere...
Intercer - English version Apple Burritos
Apple Burritos. June 9, 2011 By admin. Innovative recipe that combines tortillas with fruit. Would be wonderful with a whipped topping. 10 Golden Delicious apples, chopped (may substitute other kinds) 3/4 C apple juice concentrate ...
Publish Date: 06/08/2011 21:00
http://en.intercer.net/news/apple-burritos.html
Sainsbury's pipped by Tesco in grapple over British apples
Tesco has sold 31408 tonnes of its British-grown fruit this season 35.4% more than in 2009-2010, while Sainsbury's has sold 31325 tonnes 7.8% fewer [English Apples and Pears 2010/2011]. Tesco attributed the turnaround to ...
Publish Date: 06/02/2011 16:00
http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/Articles.aspx?page=articles&ID=218514
Foothills Fancies: Clove Gillyflowers: A Botanical Ramble
Its exact origins are unclear, but Beach (1905) says it is an ancient English culinary and cider apple. Fruit medium to large, slightly conical, with greenish-yellow skin covered with dark red faint red striping. ...
Publish Date: 05/25/2011 6:26
http://foothillsfancies.blogspot.com/2011/05/clove-gillyflowers-botanical-ramble.html
Fruitwise apple tree grafting, the saddle graft
Demonstration of one of the simplest and most useful techniques for grafting fruit trees. A 'pencil' of the scion wood, variety Queen Cox in this case, is used from storage, these need to be cut while the wood is winter-dormant eg February to early M...
