Ashmead's Kernel

Today we harvested some of the leftover apples, too few for cider making.

Here is the Ashmead's Kernel.

This apple originates in England in the 1700s and is a russeted a golden brown with an orange or reddish bronze cheek.  

This apple has a different texture than my other cider apples.  Although a russet, the skin is not as leathery, the first bite doesn't produce a strong crack, but yet it is sugary, juicy, aromatic and has a distinctive, acidic sweet flavor.

This one was a pleasant surprise.

Cider Apples

Hudson's Golden Gem (1931)

Found in a fenceline thicket in Tangent Oregon in 1931, Hudson's Golden Gem is the shape of a Bosc pear and has a sweet, pear-like flavor.  It was originally marketed in the 1930s as a pear!

I'm a fan of russets and Hudson's Golden Gem is a fine quality russet apple, perfect  for making cider.