It’s Crunch Time at Alston Wholefoods
We are very fortunate to have on sale some fine varieties of northern apples – both cookers and eaters – from an orchard at nearby Renwick. Read about their special qualities below. All are at £1.50 per kilo. You can select your own mixed bag if you like. Don’t forget that apples are an excellent accompaniment to cheese, which as you know we specialise in.
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LORD LAMBOURNE
the happy marriage of two flavoursome parents, this apple has the juicy briskness of James Grieve and sweetly aromatic savour of a pearmain, with hints of strawberry. A good balance of sharp and sweet.
Mid-season. Eat September to November
Eater -
ELLISON’S ORANGE
is the Cox of northern orchards. A juicy, intensely aromatic dessert apple. The crisp flesh is reminiscent of aniseed. Eat them now when the are at their very best. Very good with cheese.
Mid-season. Eat September to October
Eater -
SAINT EDMUND’S PIPPIN (RUSSET)
this russet apple has densely textured flesh described at ‘sweet, and rich … ambrosial, like pear flavoured vanilla ice cream’.
Mid-season. Eat late September to October
Eater -
HOWGATE WONDER
is the Bramley of northern orchards. It is a good baker and makes excellent juice.
Late-season. Keeps well. Eat November to March
Cooker -
DISCOVERY
is an early crisp juicy eater with pale flesh and great flavour. Eat them immediately when the are at their very best. The little ones make excellent toffee apples.
Eater -
LEMON SQUARE
is an old Cumbrian variety dating from before 1798 when it was listed in a nursery catalogue at Keswick and later at Alexander Forbes’s nursery in Kendal. An eating apple that is particularly good for juicing. The skin is green turning yellow, often with a warm blush. It is a middle to late season apple.
Eater -
EMNETH EARLY
is a smooth-skinned, sharp, green apple which cooks down – or rather rises, soufflé-like, to a juicy white fluff, of excellent flavour with little or no sugar. For a simple pudding, stir in cream and eat with shortbread.
Keeps until November.
Cooker -
CHARLES ROSS
is a handsome, lightly aromatic, very sweet and juicy apple with a firm texture, delicious to eat raw, and keeps its shape when cooked, making it ideal for tarts. It looks especially pretty if you leave the skin on.
Will keep until December, but best used earlier.
Eater and Cooker -
LAXTON’S FORTUNE
is a sweet, juicy Cox-style apple.
Keeps until October/November.
Eater
All at £1.50/kg. You are welcome to select your own mixed bag.