If you are a Jonathan apple fan, then you need to check out the Jonared apple.
What are Jonared Apples? Is a "sport variety" of Jonathan apples that has a more red color skinned that actually "bleeds" into the flesh of the fruit. It's a mostly tart apple that makes a beautiful red tinted applesauce.
The Jonathan is a classic American apple. It has been used to produce other varieties of apples as well such as the Jonagold. When I discovered the Jonared, I assumed it was a mix of a Jonathan and a Red Delicious. However this is not the case. Let me share with you all I know about this apple variety.
📜 History
The Jonared apple is actually a sport variety of the Jonathan that was discovered in Washington during the 1930s. Botanically speaking it is a Jonathan apple still. The unique characteristics of a Jonared is that the skin actually bleeds into the flesh underneath. Also the apple is quite small to medium in size.
🚜 When Are They Harvested?
These apples are harvested around the same time as the standard Jonathan apple, which would be around mid September, but Jonared can be slightly earlier than Jonathan.
👅 What Does It Taste Like
Here is my review of this apple. Categories are on a scale of 1-10.
| Crispiness | 3 |
| Tartness | 7 |
| Flavor | 7 |
| Sweetness | 5 |
| Juiciness | 9 |
This is a very juicy apple that has good flavor and is more tart than sweet. You can use it like you would any other Jonathan apple.
These apples make beautiful applesauce. If you keep the skins on when cooking and remove them with a food mill later, your sauce will have a red tint to it. I think that is a reason enough to seek out these apples.
Unless you like a tart applesauce you will need to add sugar or honey. I recommend throwing in a couple sweet apples like Fuji or Gala so the sauce will be naturally sweet.
🛒 Where to Buy
I didn't find a ton of different orchards that say they grown them. Strangely enough I didn't find any listings in Washington, despite being where this apple was discovered.
- Randall Orchards (Monmouth, ME)
- Norman's Orchard (Tarentum, PA)
- Ledge Top Farm (Wilton, NH)
- Brookside Farms (Ostego, MI)
- Kennette Orchards (Lakeshore, ON)
- Camp’s Orchard (Macomb, IL)
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.
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