British Apples

The most popular apple is British Cox’s Orange Pippin, which is the largest single variety produced in the UK. It has an orange-red skin and a distinctive sweet flavour. It is often regarded as the finest of all dessert apples, and is reputed to be the only apple that you can shake and hear the seeds rattle! The Cox Family include the Crimson Cox, the Queen Cox and the King Cox.

The Bramley apple is another British great for pies, cooked fruit compotes, salads, crumbles, and other dessert dishes. They are also used in a variety of chutney recipes.(See our Apple Relish recipe of the month).  A cooked apple sauce is the traditional accompaniment to roast pork, and a hot apple sauce also goes very well with ice cream (Delish)!

The Egremont Russet is a classic English russet apple. It is a russet-skinned variety with a dry flesh (feels like very fine sandpaper) and has a good balance between sweetness and sharpness. It has often been described as having a “nutty” flavour. Both the flavour and the soft flesh are reminiscent of a firm pear. It is said to work well in savoury salads for example, and is a popular partner for cheese.

Lord Lambourne is very much in the tradition of classic English high-quality dessert apples. The flesh is creamy-white and quite crisp with a hint of russet, and the flavour is pleasantly strong. It has many uses as it has a great balance between sweet and sharp.

Just remember apples do not ripen after they have been picked so be very selective when buying them. If you do have some old apples left over, do not throw them away, you could always pop them in the oven with some honey drizzled on top, a bit of cinnamon, and some raisins. Bake until soft and then serve as a dessert with some custard (Bramley apples would be best for this). Another great way to use up older apples is to just boil them in water with some sticks of cinnamon until soft and have them for breakfast with some yoghurt and your favourite cereal! A great healthy, money-saving tip.

And always remember: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away!”