The Chestnut Apple

“There is a Bronze Age ancientness to it, a cradle-of-civilization, ribbed-fruit feel to the thing, that makes me think of fine parchment and old maps. Bite into one and you are Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton, venturing in disguise to exotic lands. The natives have just handed you a mysterious fruit, and you snack on it and marvel at its strangeness and think, “The world is full of surprises.” Jacobsen, R., & Barboza, C. (2014). Apples of uncommon character: 123 heirlooms, modern classics & little-known wonders. Bloomsbury. 

Name: Chestnut or Sweet Chestnut 

Origin: St. Paul, Minnesota, 1946. It’s a cross between a Malinda and another crabapple. The Chestnut apple dates back to the 1940s and was developed by the University of Minnesota

Appearance: Orange, red, and yellow with a little heritage russeting. Small apple—big wow!

Flavor: Subtle, sweet with tinder snap

Texture: Firm, crisp & snappy

Season: September

Storage: 3–4 months refrigerated 

Use: The Chestnut is the star of September—it stands alone in superiority to any fall snack. Perfect in size—you can have one for a little hors d’oeuvre or seven for a meal.  The best size for kids snack or lunch box. If you haven’t tried a Chestnut, one bite and you’ll come back for more! 

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