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Court of Wick Apple
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Description/Taste
Court of Wick apples are a small to medium-sized varietal, averaging 5 to 7 centimeters in diameter, and have a round, ovate, to slightly conical shape with flat sloping shoulders and a narrow base. The apple’s stem is slender, short, and thin, while the skin is semi-smooth, taut, and firm, covered in brown-green russet patches in the stem cavity and across the fruit’s surface. Court of Wick apples ripen from green to golden yellow and occasionally feature faint red blushing and orange streaking. Underneath the surface, the pale yellow flesh is solid, crisp, and aqueous with a crunchy, fine-grained consistency. The flesh also envelops a small central core filled with tiny black-brown seeds. Court of Wick apples are subtly fragrant and have a robustly sweet, fruity, well-rounded flavor combined with tangy, cider-like undertones.
Seasons/Availability
Court of Wick apples are harvested in the fall, with a peak season in late September through October. Once picked, the apples can be kept in professional cold storage until the spring.
Current Facts
Court of Wick apples, botanically classified as Malus domestica, are an English variety belonging to the Rosaceae family. The late-season apples develop on trees reaching 1.8 to 4.6 meters in height and were favored by growers for their vigorous nature, resistance to mildew, canker, and scab, and hardiness. Court of Wick apples are an heirloom variety discovered growing as a chance seedling. The variety reached peak cultivation during the 19th century and was once regarded as one of the best dessert apples in England. Over time, the variety remained localized to gardens in the United Kingdom and eventually faded from popularity with the introduction of modern cultivars. Court of Wick apples are also known as Wood’s Huntingdon, Court of Wyck, Golden Drop, Court of Wick Pippin, Aniseed apples, and Wick’s Pippin apples. In the present day, Court of Wick apples are rare and challenging to find as they are no longer commercially grown. The variety is valued as a specialty cultivar in home gardens and is harvested ripe as a fresh eating or culinary apple. Court of Wick apples have a sweet-tart flavor that is versatile in sweet and savory preparations.
Nutritional Value
Court of Wick apples have not been studied for their nutritional properties. Like other apples, the variety is a source of vitamin C to strengthen the immune system, fiber to regulate the digestive tract, potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, and calcium to protect bones and teeth. The apples also provide vitamin A to maintain healthy organ functioning, iron to produce the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport through the bloodstream, copper to develop connective tissues, and other nutrients, including vitamin E, magnesium, boron, zinc, and vitamin K. The apple's pigmented, blushed skin contains anthocyanins, natural compounds with antioxidant-like properties that protect the cells against free radical damage.
Applications
Court of Wick apples have a sweet-tart, fruity taste suited for fresh and cooked preparations. Traditionally, the variety was consumed straight out of hand as a snack or dessert, or they were added into cider and juice blends. Court of Wick apples produce a sweet-flavored juice, often paired with tarter apples to create a complex, deeper flavor. The variety can also be chopped into salads, shredded into slaws, layered onto sandwiches, or dipped into caramel or nut butter. Try adding Court of Wick apples into any recipe calling for standard sweet or commercial varieties. The apples can also be simmered into sauces, jams, chutney, jellies, and preserves or used as a filling for pies, crisps, tarts, dumplings, muffins, and turnovers. In England, the variety is commonly consumed during the holiday season and is festively added to drinks, appetizers, and main dishes as a seasonal delicacy. The apples can be roasted with other root vegetables, minced into stuffing, or baked into cakes and bread. Court of Wick apples pair well with cheeses such as goat, brie, parmesan, and cheddar, fruits including citrus, bananas, grapes, and melons, and nuts such as walnuts, pine, and almonds. Freshly harvested Court of Wick apples will keep for 2 to 3 months when stored in a cool, dry, and dark location such as a cellar or refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Court of Wick apples were named after a manor in Somerset, England. The medieval estate was constructed sometime in the 13th century and was known as the Court de Wyck. It has been said that the manor was changed and expanded throughout history, and by the late 18th century, the property included a farm, which is where the apples were thought to have been originally discovered. In the early 19th century, the Court de Wyck was considered one of the area's most lavish and stunning properties, but its reign was short-lived as it was torn down due to a fire in 1815. Despite its demise, the Court of Wyck became famous for growing the Court of Wick apples, and the manor resided in a climate that was generally milder and wetter than other regions of England, providing the ideal environment for apple cultivation.
Geography/History
Court of Wick apples are native to England and are an heirloom variety dating back to at least the late 18th century. The date of origin is unknown, but Court of Wick apples were first discovered growing in the orchard of the Court of Wyck in Yatton, a village in Somerset, England. The variety is considered an open-pollinated seedling of Golden Pippin apples, as recorded in author John Billingsley’s “Survey of Somersetshire,” written in 1794. Over time, Court of Wick apples were spread to other regions of England and were first propagated and introduced to markets in 1790 by nurseryman Mr. Wood of Huntingdon, a town in Cambridgeshire, England. Court of Wick apples were initially known as Wood’s Pippin after Mr. Wood promoted the variety, but they eventually were named Court of Wick in honor of their site of origination. The variety became a widely grown apple throughout the 19th century in English orchards, especially in West Country. Today, Court of Wick apple trees thrive in almost all areas of the United Kingdom, including colder northern climates, coastal regions, and temperate regions, and is a rare heritage variety cultivated as a novelty. Court of Wick apples are not grown commercially and are found through farmer’s markets and directly through growers when in season.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Court of Wick Apple. One
is easiest, three is harder.| Baker Bettie |
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Homemade Crockpot Apple Cider |
| Yummy Tummy |
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Homemade Apple Juice |
