This gem of an apple may look strange to those that never had a russeted apple but it's one you want to try out. Let me share with you all about this variety.
While a lot of our modern day apples varieties were made from intention crosses, there are those out there that were just discovered. Today we are talking about Hudson's Golden Gem. I will share with you the history of this apple and what you can expect the to taste like.
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📜 History
In 1931, a Oregon nursery called Hudson Nursery made such a discovery. A seed dropped in a hedgerow that produced a new variety of apple. They named the apple after their orchard - Hudson's Golden Gem.
It is a Russet type apple. It has a brown size like a Russet potato or a Bosc pear, with undertones of gold. The apple has an appealing elongated conical shape. It has a reputation for being one of the best looking Russets. The apple ranges from medium to large in size.
🚜 When Are They Harvested?
The harvest of these apples begins in early October.
👅 What Does It Taste Like
Here is my review of this apple. Categories are on a scale of 1-10.
| Crispiness | 7 |
| Tartness | 2 |
| Flavor | 6 |
| Sweetness | 9 |
| Juiciness | 6 |
🍎 What are Hudson's Golden Gem Apples Best For?
Hudson's is very sweet apple. It has better flavor than the popular sweet apple, the Gala. The pretty apples are not necessarily the best apples. The flavor reminds me a bit of a pear. Not much tartness to be had. It has the hard characteristic you find in Russet apples.
These apples are best enjoyed out of hand. I prefer more tartness to an apple to use it in cooking applications. The apple does make for a great cider apple, I have seen it appearing in different blends.
🛒 Where to Buy
There are many fantastic orchards that are growing this variety. Let me share the ones I know about with you:
- Door Creek Orchard | Cottage Grove, WI
- Scott Farm | Dummerston, NH
- Hidden Gem Orchards | Southbury, CT
- Fifth Crow Farm | Pescadero, CA
- Birdsong Orchards | Watsonville, CA
- McDougal Orchards | Springvale, ME
- Alyson’s | Walpole, NH
🍬 More Sweet Apples to Try
Hudson's Golden Gem is such a great sweet apple, but I want to share some other sweet varieties you can check out:
Have you tried this apple? What did you think? Leave a comment below telling us. Be a helper and share where you found it. You may make someone's day with your insider info on where to get them! If you are a true apple lover, you'll want to check out all of our apple reviews.
Ron
This apple reminds me of the Grimes Golden apples I picked from our farm orchard as a kid in the 1950s and 1960s - so close I was convinced I was tasting a Grimes Golden for the first time since moving to northern California in the 1970s. I'd love to find a source for either the Hudson's Golden Gem or the Grimes Golden in the SF Bay Area!