Learn more about this old heirloom apple that make may look different from time to time. It's an apple worth seeking out.
Next up on our list of apples to review is the Roxbury Russet. I have had several Russet apples. These apples normally have brown coloring in their skin, much like that of a Russet potato. As you see in the picture above this apple doesn't have a lot of brown, mostly green. With this particular variety the amount of "russeting" depends on the year. I have had Russets that were completely brown.
Some apples can have a good amount of red blush on them too. It depends on the year and where they were grown.
Let me teach you all about this old variety.
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📜 History
The really cool thing about this apple is that it may be the first apple ever developed in American history! The name "Roxbury" comes from the town of Roxbury in the Massachusetts Bay Colony where it was grown even before our independence in the early 17th century.
This apple was also part of the famous Thomas Jefferson orchard at Monticello. Talk about an apple with a history - a history that I got to taste!
🚜 When Are They Harvested?
This variety develops later in the season, so expect them around mid-October. You don't want to get them too early or the sweetness won't be there. This apple tends to drop off the tree once it's ripe, so it can be hard one to harvest and why you may see them earlier than you should because farmers don't want them to fall off the tree. You can't see the drops, at least for full price and states have laws against using dropped fruit for cider.
👅 What Does It Taste Like
Here is my review of this apple. Categories are on a scale of 1-10.
| Crispiness | 6 |
| Tartness | 6 |
| Flavor | 9 |
| Sweetness | 5 |
| Juiciness | 5 |
🍎 What are Roxbury Russet Apples Best For?
My wife described this apple as having a pure apple flavor. When you think of what an apple tastes like, this is the apple you are thinking of. It has such a clean, tart flavor, with enough sugar to it for out of hand enjoyment.
This is an apple that I have only used for eating. I haven't tried cooking with it. It's not a very juicy apple, so when used for juice or cider it will produce a thicker result, which I believe is a good thing.
You can use the apple for a salad and I think it would be tasty. The apple will brown on you though, which doesn't make it bad, it just effects the appearance. You can try squeezing on some lemon juice to stop the browning if it's a concern.
🛒 Where to Buy
The last time I had this apple I got it from Creasman Farms from Hendersonville, North Carolina. They have a booth at the farmers market in Asheville. Hendersonville is one of my favorite places in the country to get apples. They have so many orchards right along one road. I got to stop in and visit several in a very short timespan.
Here are some other orchards to get this apple from:
- Door Creek Orchard | Cottage Grove, WI
- Scott Farm | Drummerston, VT
- Hidden Hollow Orchard | Louisville, KY
- Rittman Orchards | Doylestown, OH
- Many Rivers Farm | Bahama, NC
- Campbell Orchard | Pawnee, IL
- Philo Apple Farm | Philo, CA
- Red Apple Farm | Phillipston, MA
👴🏻 More Heirloom Apples to Try
Look for some more apples to add to your list to try. Here are a few worth seeking 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.
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