Scrumptious Apples
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Scrumptious apples are a medium to large varietal and are somewhat uniform in nature with a round, ovate, to conical shape. The apples feature square, blocky shoulders, and the stem is dark brown to green, slender, upright, and woody. The skin is thin, smooth, taut, and faintly glossy, with a yellow-green base blushed with red streaking and striping. The crimson, burgundy, to bright red blush can be saturated to mottled, depending on the amount of sun exposure on the tree. There are also occasional flecks of rough, textured russet that appear in the cavity and in patches on the surface. Underneath the skin, the ivory to cream-colored flesh is dense, aqueous, and tender with a crisp, snappy, and succulent consistency. The flesh also encases a central fibrous core filled with black-brown seeds. Scrumptious apples are fragrant and can be consumed raw or cooked when ripe. The flesh has balanced sugar and acidity, creating a sweet, tangy, and fruity taste with honeyed nuances of cherries, strawberries, wine, and anise.
Seasons/Availability
Scrumptious apples are available in the early fall.
Current Facts
Scrumptious apples, botanically classified as Malus domestica, are an English variety belonging to the Rosaceae family. The early-season cultivar was bred as a modern apple in the late 20th century and was intentionally developed with an emphasis on flavor, a trait unusual among early-season apples. Scrumptious apples were named for their complex, sweet, and honeyed taste, and the fruits grow on compact trees reaching 2.5 to 4 meters in height. The variety was designed for home gardens, and the trees can be planted in containers. Apple enthusiasts appreciate Scrumptious apples for their self-fertile nature, high yields, disease resistance, and frost tolerance. The apples arrive early in the season and can remain on the tree for over two weeks, allowing for a continuous, extended harvest versus picking all the fruits at once. In the modern day, Scrumptious apples are a specialty variety for home gardeners and smaller, private orchards. The apples are popularly consumed as a fresh eating variety and can also be added to a wide array of sweet or savory preparations.
Nutritional Value
Scrumptious apples are a source of vitamin A to maintain healthy organ functioning, fiber to regulate the digestive tract, potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, and vitamin C to strengthen the immune system. The apples also provide antioxidants to reduce inflammation and protect the cells against the damage caused by free radicals, magnesium to maintain optimum nerve functioning, calcium to protect bones and teeth, copper to build connective tissues, and other amounts of vitamins E and K, boron, iron, and zinc.
Applications
Scrumptious apples have a sweet-tart flavor suited for fresh and cooked preparations. The variety is primarily consumed straight out of hand and is savored for its aroma and crisp, fine-grained texture. It is also commonly served chilled as a refreshing snack. Try tossing Scrumptious apples into salads, shredding them into slaws, mixing them into fruit medleys, or chopping and using them as a fresh topping over acai and grain bowls. They can also be blended into smoothies or pressed into a sweet juice. In addition to fresh preparations, Scrumptious apples cook into a light, fluffy, and sweet puree. This puree can be incorporated into apple sauce, a typical side dish to roasted meats, or baked into cakes, muffins, bread, and other pastries. Scrumptious apples can also be sliced and cooked into tarts, baked into crisps and cobblers, hollowed, stuffed, and baked whole, or simmered in brown butter as a savory-sweet topping over ice cream. Scrumptious apples pair well with spices such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger, vanilla, cheeses including cheddar, blue, and parmesan, nuts including pecans, walnuts, and almonds, and meats such as poultry, pork, lamb, and turkey. Whole, unwashed Scrumptious apples have a short shelf life and will only keep for 1 to 2 weeks when stored in the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Hugh Ermen was a famous apple breeder and horticulturalist in England during the 20th and early 21st centuries. Ermen was passionate about apples and spent most of his career working at the National Fruit Collections at Brogdale in Kent, England. Even in retirement, Ermen dedicated his time to developing new apple varieties in his suburban garden. Ermen trialed over one hundred dwarf trees and partnered with Frank P. Matthews Nursery to release his varieties to other growers. One of Ermen’s most significant achievements was using the natural roots of trees to develop new types rather than using rootstock, and Ermen notably created Scrumptious apples, Red Devil, Limelight, Winter Gem, and Herefordshire Russet apples. In 1988, Ermen was awarded the Royal Horticultural Society Associate of Honor, a distinguished and highly regarded recognition for his advancement and contributions to pomology.
Geography/History
Scrumptious apples are native to England and were developed by well-known apple breeder Hugh Ermen in the county of Kent. The variety is thought to have been created from a cross between Discovery apples and Golden Delicious apples, and Worcester Pearmain may also be in the apple’s lineage. Scrumptious apples were intentionally bred to be an early-season apple with improved flavors. Historically, early-season apples were known for their light and mild flavor, and Ermen sought to develop a variety that had fragrant, sweet, and tangy qualities with fruity nuances. Scrumptious apples were bred in the early 1980s and were released to growers by Frank P. Matthews Nursery in Worcestershire in 2000. The variety became a favored home garden cultivar and was given the Award of Garden Merit by the United Kingdom Royal Horticultural Society in 2010. This prestigious award is given to varieties that showcase quality growing characteristics in home gardens. Today, Scrumptious apples are a seasonal delicacy only available for a few weeks each year. The apples are sold through farmer’s markets and select growers in England.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Scrumptious Apples. One
is easiest, three is harder.| Will Cook For Smiles |
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Pear Apple Broccoli Salad |
| Cookie and Kate |
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Pomegranate & Pear Green Salad with Ginger Dressing |
