The early apple season is full of apples that are pretty tart. The exception to that may be the Paula Red. Paula Red apples come out in August and are among some of the first apples you find at the farmers market. It’s a mainly red apple with some areas of green/yellow. The skin is shiny. It’s a nice apple to take a picture of.
Paula Reds were first discovered in Kent County, Michigan in Sparta Township. A grower by the name of Lewis Arends discovered them in an area of his orchard that contained McIntosh apples. It’s exact parents are not known but it would make sense for one of them to be a McIntosh (Cortlands have been rumored to be the othe parents). Some people mistake the Paula Red for a McIntosh. They are similar in appearance and flavor. Lewis named the apple after his wife, Pauline. Paula Reds first hit the market in 1968.
My Experience with this Apple (Rating Scale 1-10)
Crispiness: 3
Tartness : 4
Apple Flavor: 6
Sweetness: 6
Juiciness: 6
Overall Feeling: Paula Reds have a nice balance of sweet and tart. They are similar to eating a McIntosh or Golden Delicious. They do not hold their shape when cooked, so you are best off eating them out of hand or using them for applesauce. As the apple ages it becomes soft and mealy, so you want to use them up not long after you buy them.
Interested in learning more about apples?
4 pings
Eat Like No One Else − Homemade Peach Applesauce says:
September 6, 2010 at 7:53 pm (UTC -6)
[...] 1 extra large Glowing Star Peach 2 Jersey Mac apples 2 Ginger Gold apples 3 Paula Red apples [...]
Eat Like No One Else − What Apples to Use for Applesauce? says:
October 4, 2010 at 8:25 am (UTC -6)
[...] and 3 Paula Red apples. A Jersey Mac is very similar to a McIntosh, and both Ginger Gold and Paula Red are good for cooking and have a nice sweet/tart balance. The peach added some acidic of it’s [...]
Eat Like No One Else − Apple Variety Reviews says:
October 12, 2010 at 6:37 pm (UTC -6)
[...] Ginger Gold Paula Red Transparent Red Astrachan Grimes Golden Pippin Spartan Golden [...]
When Does Apple Season Begin, Peak, and End? » Eat Like No One Else says:
November 3, 2011 at 1:56 pm (UTC -6)
[...] for out of hand eating, Paula Red and Gingergold are two great apples that are available in this time, but like their counterparts [...]