Learn about the Red Astrachan apple including what it tastes like and where you can find them.
What is Red Astrachan Apple? This is an early season apple variety that is known for being tart which is great for baking. The apples have a short shelf life and are mainly only available to get at orchards or farmer's markets.
One of the most wonderful things about a farmer's market is finding varieties of produce that you would never find in the super market. At the Ann Arbor Farmer's Market, I discovered the Red Astrachan variety of apples. Read on and learn more about it.
📜 History
This mostly green apple with red streaks, originated in Russia. There were introduced to England in 1816 and then came to the United States in 1835. This is considered an heirloom variety.
🚜 When Are They Harvested?
They are an early apple being harvested in late July to early August. Although at a high elevation spot in northern Utah you can find them being picked in September instead.
👅 What Does It Taste Like
Here is my review of this apple. Categories are on a scale of 1-10.
| Crispiness | 3 |
| Tartness | 8 |
| Flavor | 5 |
| Sweetness | 2 |
| Juiciness | 5 |
The first apple I tried from the bunch was overwhelming tart. It wasn't so tart that I could not eat it, but probably one of the most tart apples that can still be eaten out of hand.
After 5 days the apple got a bit softer and the tartness wasn't as overwhelming. The apple flavor and sweetness seemed to improve. The drawback is that the apples are borderline becoming too soft, so I will have to finish these up quickly.
They can be good for cooking/baking with. If making applesauce you will need to mix in some sweeter apples or add sugar or honey.
🛒 Where to Buy
This variety is one you are going to have to look for at a farmer's market or an orchard. The trees that produce this apple are productive every other year, which isn't good to be grow on large scale, plus they have a short shelf life.
- Door Creek Orchard (Cottage Grove, WI)
- Scott Farm Orchard (Drummerston, VT)
- Waddell Apples (Kingston, ON)
- Piper’s Orchard (Seattle, WA)
- Park Hill Orchard (Easthampton, MA)
- Brightonwoods Orchard (Burlington, WI)
- Riley's Farm (Oak Glen, CA)
- Nels Johnson Orchard of Capitol Reef National Park (Torrey, UT)
- Huber Apple Orchard (Midway, UT - pick in September with a reservation)
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.
Deek Crowley
My grandfather planted a Red Astrakhan tree in the middle of his hayfield on Cape Split in South Addison, Maine sometime between 1899 and 1905. Although the tree hasn't been taken care of for fifty years it still has some apples most years. They have the most incredibly wonderful taste and no other apple I've ever tasted comes anywhere near close and I've eaten an awful lot of varieties of heirloom apples.
Apples
Deek Crowley, I agree with you. I found one apple tree with astonishingly sweet, aromatic, balanced and crispy apples in an old Russian's property I bought and have been searching the name if this WOW apple since then. It must be Astrachan or very similar to it. The best apple I have ever eaten, just love it.