One of the joys of August where I live is the beginning of apple season. And it all begins with one of my favorites, the Gravenstein apple. Thanks to cold storage and imported fruit, we have access to apples year-round, but from winter onwards they are just a commodity (because one supermarket apple tastes much like the next one). Red and Golden Delicious, McIntosh, Fuji, Gala, and Granny Smiths are all good apples and each of them is excellent if you can find one fresh off the tree, but I don’t get excited about them because I can buy those varieties in American stores for months at a time.
From August to November in my region, if you are fortunate and know where to look, you can enjoy some truly heirloom varieties of apples. In August, I get excited because one of the first apples of the season is the best one of all. These don’t last and they can’t be stored long, but there’s nothing like the taste of a fresh Gravenstein apple.
This year, I drove to apple country and bought a whole box of them. They need to be eaten, cooked, or juiced within a couple of weeks, since these apples do not store well.
Gravenstein Apple. Author photo.
When slightly green below their red stripes, the apples are wonderfully tart and crisp with a perfect balance of acids and sugar. That is my favorite stage to eat these. A few days later, the green begins to turn golden, cutting the acidity slightly. This is probably the stage at which most people would enjoy this apple the most. Later, the green-gold turns a deeper gold, which means that the apple flesh inside has become sweeter and less crispy. The texture of a fully ripe Gravenstein is fine-grained. I am less interested in them at that point because the snappiness is gone, but they are still very good for juicing or making apple sauce or apple pie.
More Gravenstein apples. The two on the left are perfectly crisp and tart (ideal for my taste). The two in the middle are slightly sweeter (best for most people). And the two on the right are fully ripe with a fine-grained texture (still good for juicing or cooking). Author photo.
Where is apple country for these heirloom treats? Since 1669, Grasten in Southern Denmark has been the epicenter for these apples, which may have come originally from Italy or Germany. The name Grasten was Germanized as Gravenstein. The apples are famous in parts of Telemark and Hardanger in Norway. They also are grown in Austria and in the Bavarian region of Germany, where the apples are known as Gravensteiners and are used to make Obstler brandy. In the United States, western Sonoma County, California is the place where most Gravs are still grown, though there are nice pockets of them in Nova Scotia, Canada and other places on both US and Canadian coasts. They are grown in New Zealand in small quantities. The Gravenstein cultivar is a triploid, which means that it isn’t good for pollinating other apples, so if you plan to plant one, make sure you grow another early-blooming variety also.
As the famous fruit breeder Luther Burbank once said, “if the Gravenstein could be had throughout the year, no other apple need be grown.” Because they don’t store well and are not good commercial apples, many Gravenstein orchards have been removed and replaced with more commercially viable crops, such as wine grapes. The rapid decline in Grav production caused Slow Food USA to proclaim this a heritage apple in 2005 and induct it in the organization’s Ark of Taste. Also in 2005, Denmark’s Food Minister proclaimed it as the country’s national apple.
And since then, quite a few chefs and gourmet food, brandy, and juice producers have taken up the challenge to make good use of this heirloom apple, which is nearly the equivalent of an endangered species. Its flavor in apple cider, sauce, crisp, pie, vinegar, and distilled alcohol is second to none.
Various Gravenstein-specific food and drink labels, stamps, and festival promotions from around the internet. Apple crisp (like pie, but using a granola or streusel topping instead of pastry dough) image from Slow Food USA.
Long live the Grav!
Additional Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravenstein
Top photo by the author
Man the whole time I was looking at this I was thinking, "where the heck is the pie?" That is all I think about when I see apples. Apple Pie, Apple crisp (with vanilla ice-cream) and my grandma's apple strudel.
Glad you ended big!
But now I'm hungry. Thanks a lot.
Well @hanshotfirst...you´ll have to wait because I will be posting my delicious apple pie and you´ll gonna love it!
@hanshotfirst .. here's the apple pie or tart I was telling ..
https://steemit.com/food/@mers/apple-tart-let-s-try-oma-s-recipe-bake-this-without-sugar
A very useful post.
Apple is a very useful fruit.
Especially for patients with colesterol and heart disease.
The fruit is very good consumed by them.
Because the content in this fruit can lower cholesterol levels and can make the heart healthy.
I always consume this fruit 2 pieces every day.
I consume it before I eat the main meal (rice).
And I also really like the apple juice.
Make our body healthy and fresh.
I like your posts @donkeypong...
sweet apple :)
This post received a 1.5% upvote from @randowhale thanks to @maxsteem! For more information, click here!
Got time for a pint Tom??
If it's apple cider, I do!
Well i hope it's that and not balsamic ;)
Indeed Denmark's are the best if where talking about apple, i love that fresh apple too! BTW, thanks sir @donkeypong for supporting us as minnow's here at the philippines. We cannot give you alot because we are most 100+ steem power but still we give upvotes for you even its not that worth! Thanks for your kindness sir! God Bless!
Looks and sound great! Looking forward to trying these apples out. Thank you for sharing @donkeypong
I'm going to have to get my hands on the apple cider vinegar & at least one hard cider. I wonder how it is in an apple butter... If any make their way to Oregon, I'll have to find out because those look delicious.
Obsessed with apple 🍎 picking!!!!😍❤️❤️❤️ You forgot to mention honey crisp in your collection! The best of them all!!!! Xxxxxx
Yes, I didn't even mention the other good ones, only Gravs and the normal supermarket varieties. I agree Honeycrisp is a special apple. It needs to be grown in the north and fully ripened, not like the ones that are grown out west near me and picked too green; they do not have that special aromatic taste that a Honeycrisp should have. If you can experience that where you live, then good for you. I have only tasted a Honeycrisp that good one time and it was an amazing apple.
Awwww if I could id send you a batch!!! 🍎 yeah they are indeed very special apples! They are only in specific grocery stores where I live! But apple picking season is right around the corner and I will make sure to get my hand on them! At least there's a good reason to be in Montreal!!:P sending some love your way! Apple cider is dope too!!🍎😎
I should give my Mom an apple for her birhtday this August 30. As a sign of joy! I accept August is an joy of apple! Thanks for the great article sir @donkeypong
holy hell that's a lot of pics... i've never heard of gravenstein. looks nice. i think when i retire i'll sit around and drink some apple brandy, like a calvados... sounds good
Wow,,, Drinks are very delicious, especially served cold, I am very fond of a drink like that, probably because the nutrients are very much,Whether it s drinks exported to indonesia, if s I want to buy, I've yet to try it. Thank you for sharing.
In my country do not value the fruit, they let it rot because the government does not help the farmers :-( ,
que pais?
en mexico amigo , en mi estado michoacan , se pudre la fruta , vas a los campos y la mayoria esta tirada por que no la pagan a buen precio
lastima, una fruta rica en nutrientes y con tanta gente que no tiene recursos para comprar frutas.
There is a saying, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Great post about the variety of apples,they grow in various countries of the world, we have in India mainly the kasmiri apples have great taste. The gravenstein apples looks great .I think it needs very cool climate to grow. It is regarded as the king of the fruit in our country. But you know friend it is very costly, so maximum people can't afford to pay for it. In our country, it is an honor to be a regular customer of apple as if it looks like a prestigious issue. Thanks for sharing such an awesome information about the great fruit. Wish you good luck and good health and happiness, Friend if you don't mind I made a video of my post, please have a look and share a comment about, please friend I am not so much telanted so I need your help to judge me. Please friend it's my request, have a great day friend happy steeming.
Where I live, every October we have an apple festival to celebrate the local apple farms harvesting. It's my favorite festival because I love apples. My dad use to sell crafts there when I was a kid and I have fond memories of wandering around the festival surrounded by people selling locally made apple butter, apple sauce, breads with apples in them, and big bags/boxes of apples for cooking. I've never tried a Gravenstein apple but I'll bet they are tasty. I lived elsewhere for a while so I get to go to our local festival for the first time in 6 years and I'm ready to load up on apples and make some pies and applesauce.
Gravenstein apples ? Hmm just heard it.
As you describe, between the apple sour taste and the sweetness of a balanced, plus crispness. it is like the fruit of heaven. maybe i will try to buy this type of apple.
I miss so many of the heirloom varieties. I remember as a child being able to get several different types from my grandfathers apple tree (grafted). I'm not even sure I could locate the same varieties anymore. Which is really said given I come from Tasmania, which is known as the apple isle.
Your best bet is to grow them yourself or find someone with a backyard tree. We are fortunate to have some good farmers market, but even those have few varieties. Try to find someone with a few trees and show up with a box around harvest time. :)
Local farmers market is great, but even they miss out on some of the truly wonderful apples. I would say that the 'lady in the snow' (I think that was the name) variety is the flavour that I remember the most, so delicate.
@donkeypong Beautifully conscious post! Apple's and I have had an interesting journey. Regenerative detoxification has definitely lessened the allergic effects I've encountered in past years. Apples are special, high energy foods that are especially beneficial for the Northern lands. I plan to go picking sometime his fall and maybe do a couple day apple fast! Thank you!! Namaste
It's a pity when Gravenstein does not exist in My country though it is very famous in Europe and maybe because the price so expensive if in exchange rate with rupiah.
Drink the juice is very useful for health, especially apple juice, because Apple contains finotrien and rich antioksidan flavonoid and folivenol.Total content of antioxidant power in a hundred apples reach 5900 TE.
The flavonoids present in apples include epicatechin, quercetin and procyanidin B2.
I really like the drinks it
Thanks @donkeypong.
Wow, those are more reasons to drink apple juice or eat apples. Plus, they taste good, unlike some healthy foods. :)
Yes, indeed many foods that are healthy, but not all of them taste good.And I also prefer the taste of good and healthy, but I also want healthy meals although bad taste.
Sounds delicious. And those unique flavor experiences are what it's all about, like rare gems of the fruit world. The apples and pears here in Nagano Japan (especially the pears, in my opinion) are some of the best I've had. Cheers, and thanks for this!
Yes, that's a perfect climate for them.
i am from germany and dindt know that thats apples are rare. thanks for the post, you have my upvote for that
Wish I could taste test through my phone!!!
@donkeypong,
Wow that would be a great article! Personally I love Apple as a fruit but here I can find few more delicious products which comes out of Apples :*
Thank you very much for sharing such great post! Really appreciate your effort!
(My voting power is still regenerating, therefore please allow me five more days to provide 100% upvotes for your posts)
Cheers~
Thank you. But please save your 100% upvotes for someone who doesn't get as many of them. :)
@donkeypong,
respect your words friend!
I wonder what it tastes like..... hmmmmmm. thank you for sharing!
regards,
@mikekenlytungal
Awesome !!! I read it thoroughly,I enjoyed it.
Its really a GREAT POST on apple and its recipes,
I also love apples,its my favorite....
Every time i see your posts i get delighted,they are just awesome,keep it up :) good luck and
dont forget to upvote back.
Wow you sure know a lot about apples. I eat apples but didn't know that there is a first class apple. To be honest, I don't know what kind of apple I am eating.
I did a bit of googling and turns out, we have it in Australia for a few weeks during apple season. I will be looking out for them next year January.
All I know is an apple a day, keeps the doctor away. But maybe one Gravenstein apple a month will keep the doctor away.
I hope you can find some there. If you try some real heirloom apples, you get some different flavors you never knew existed before. And stay healthy!
Definitely..
Thank you for the post. I actually liked that you put different brands of what you can do with this quality of apples :) You should definitively try apples from Nepal! Yummy! Also in my land, in Italy, we produce apples that are very tiny but they are the best!!!
Oh yes, Italy has good apples. I haven't tried the Himalayan ones yet...someday.
I can't wait for fall to get here to go to Apple Hill here in California, and get fresh juice and get apples to make pie. I really like Honey crisp for my pies, I've never tried Gravenstein. I'm going to look for them when I go!
I didn't know there were " Apple Fairs " & Festivals !! i wish they had them in India !! would love to go to one !
As the saying goes "an apple a day". My mother who lives in the province also takes cider every day. I wish we have one tree in the backyard, I tried growing but they eventually die out.
ohh.. for me that type of apple is the most delicious.
Love every kind of apple. Love them on every kind of way...fresh, pie, juice whatever. Just yesterday I made apple pie for Alfonso del Guzman. He and family loved it so much.
Postingan yang sangat bermanfaat.
Buah apel adalah buah yang sangat berguna.
Khususnya bagi penderita penyakit colesterol dan jantung.
Buah ini sangat bagus dikonsumsi oleh mereka.
Karena kandungan yang ada dalam buah ini dapat menurunkan kadar kolesterol dan dapat membuat jantung sehat.
Saya selalu mengkonsumsi buah ini 2 buah setiap harinya.
Saya mengkonsumsinya sebelum saya makan makanan utama(nasi).
Dan saya juga sangat suka jus buah apel.
Membuat badan kita sehat dan segar.
Saya menyukai postingan kamu.
Terima kasih @donkeypong..
What a color! Seems like it blinks right before me
Apple is one of my favorite fruits. I agree that thanks to Supermarket, we get them every year round. Thanks for sharing great info.
Never knew apple can be use to make so much. Really not an apple fan, guthe reason i dont know so much about apple. Learnt something new from this. Thank you @donkeypong.
anything with apples I will love from Cider to Phone and between
das ist wirklich ein toller apfel🍏 🍎🍏 🍎
Nice sharing. Thanks
wao! super awesome..u got my upvote and follow
pakistani players is the new intertainment
https://steemit.com/funny/@saleemmalik256/pakistani-cricket-players-is-a-new-intertainment
Apples!! Like it says: one apple a day, keeps the doctor away. So nice to enjoy of them the whole year!!! In my country, we dont have them, except for Christmas and of course it is imported and expensive. But you are blessed to have them even in your patio. Enjoy them!
Quiero visitar esa expo
I also really like the food you post.
I heard it has a lot of properties plus it's tasty too
amazing...nice post, beautifull picture, thank for sharing.
thank for sharing.