If you are a fan of the McIntosh apple, you need to give a test taste to it's offspring the Macoun apple. It has a sweet-tart flavor with that same bright white flesh that McIntosh is famous for.
In my 50 plus apple reviews on this blog, I have spend alot of time looking through different apple databases, orchard listings, other people's reviews and I have seen certain apples pop up time and again. Varieties that I never had before, but was highly encouraged to seek out. It's always a great sense of personal success when I discover one of those apples. You can add to my apple that I have tasted list - the Macoun apple.
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📜 History
On appearance the Macoun looks a lot like a McIntosh and with good reason - it's a cross between a McIntosh and a Jersey Black. It is a development of the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station - the same group responsible for the Empire apple. The apple is named after a Canadian fruit grower.
🚜 When Are They Harvested?
From what I read online Macouns can be a tricky apple. The flavor is at it's peak in October, but the apple has a tendency to fall off the tree, so it's often picked early. The tree also produce good one year and not as good the next. This is why these apples don't have much of a commercial presences - more of just a cult following.
👅 What Does It Taste Like
Here is my review of this apple. Categories are on a scale of 1-10.
| Crispiness | 7 |
| Tartness | 6 |
| Flavor | 9 |
| Sweetness | 6 |
| Juiciness | 8 |
Like I mentioned above the Macoun is a tricky apple. Picked too early and the flavor is not there. Picked too late and it's too soft. It's need to be like Goldilocks would want it - just right. Many years ago, I picked Macoun straight from the tree at Tree-Mendus Orchards in Eau Claire, Michigan. It was the second Monday of the month of September. The flavor wasn't anything to write home about then, a sweeter McIntosh.
3 weeks later and the flavor has really come out. It has lost a little bit of crispiness but not enough to turn me off to it. It has a sweet, McIntosh-like flavor and is really juicy. I didn't understand 3 weeks ago what the fuss was, but now I do. That's the thing with apples that people don't understand - their flavor and texture changes over time, some times for the better.
A lot of later season apples are put into cold storage and then released in the winter months. Sometimes apple need a little age, like wine, cheese, or vinegar. It's all about knowing the apple and tasting it at different times to know when it's at it's peak.
In 2021, I was at Shady Maple Farm Market in Pennsylvania. It was around mid October and they had Macouns for 77 cents a pound.
These Macoun apples' were incredible. Full of flavor and perfectly crisp.
In 2024, I got them at Kiyokawa Family Orchards near Mt. Hood, Oregon. It was near the beginning of November. The flavor was there but the apple wasn't as crisp as I would have been happy with. Ideally, getting them off the tree or freshly picked in mid October is going to be the best time to try Macoun.
🍎 What are Macoun Best For?
When they are at their peak, I just sliced them up and eat them out of hand. If you like eating your apples with cheeses, a good sharp cheddar or aged gouda would be a good choice.
If the apples become too soft, then they make for a great applesauce apple. I think they are sweet enough that you won't need to add sugar to an applesauce made with them.
Can you bake with them? Yes if you like an apple that bakes up softer, without completely becoming applesauce. Here is a picture of a single serving air fryer apple cobbler I made with them:
🛒 Where to Buy
The Macoun has a strong following, so I thought I would list some orchards that grow this apple. This is by no means a complete list, just a few places I was able to find online. If there no one listed in your area, let me know I will try to help you find a source.
- Kiyokawa Family Orchards (Parkdale, OR)
- Scott Farm Orchard (Dummerston. VT)
- Johnston Fruit Farm (Swanton, OH)
- Belltown Hill Orchards (South Glastonbury, CT)
- Fishkill Farms (Hopewell JCT, NY)
- Bishop's Orchards Farm Market & Winery (Guilford, CT)
- Sun Orchard Apples (Burt, NY)
- Lyman Orchards (Middlefield, CT)
- Champlain Orchards (Shoreham, VT)
- McDougal Orchards (Springvale, ME)
- Linvilla Orchards (Media, PA)
- Hansel's Orchard (North Yarmouth, ME)
- Tougas Family Farm (Northborough, MA)
- Mad Tom Orchard (East Dorset, VT)
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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