Learn about the Red Astrachan apple including what it tastes like and where you can find them.
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What is a Red Astrachan Apple?
When I first began blogging back in 2009, I didn’t know much about apple varieties. When I saw apples at the store, I couldn’t automatically tell which ones were tart, which were sweet, which were best for applesauce, and which worked well in pies. I figured if I didn’t know, others probably didn’t either. So I set out to review every apple variety I could find for the blog. Now I host a weekly podcast that talks about different varieties.
In the early days, one of my favorite places to discover new varieties was the Ann Arbor Farmers Market in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 2011, I actually worked for an apple orchard that sold at this market—and all the knowledge I had gained about apples over the previous couple of years turned out to be a big asset for them.
It was at this farmers market that I discovered the Red Astrachan apple. It wasn’t one that the orchard I worked for sold—there were a few other orchards at the market as well.
Red Astrachan is an early-season apple variety known for its tart flavor. It has a short shelf life and is mainly available directly from orchards or farmers markets.
Let me share with you everything I’ve learned about this variety since I first wrote about it, along with what others have shared with me over the years.
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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. Someone named "Alan" commented on this post sharing his love for using Red Astrachan for applesauce "the most amazingly delicious apple sauce I've ever had". I would love to see how it compares to two other tart, early season apples that are good for applesauce - Lodi and Transparent apples. Check out the comments at the end to see what other people are saying about these apples.
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)
Is there an orchard that grows this apple that you know of that I didn't mention here? Make sure to leave a comment below sharing the name of the orchard and what city & state it's in. Thanks so much!!!!!
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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.
Alan Jones
More than half a century ago, I picked probably twenty pounds of Red Astracan apples from trees that had once been part of a small orchard, but had been untended for many years. Being untended, the apples were small and wormy. I used them to make applesauce. They needed sugar, of course, but they made the most amazingly delicious apple sauce I've ever had.
Eric Samuelson
Thanks Alan for stopping by and sharing your experience with the apple. Great applesauce apple for sure!