Barnack Beauty

Why you should be excited

Barnack Beauty is an attractive 19th century English multi-purpose apple with assertive flavour to match its good looks.

The story of Barnack Beauty

When you see an apple as pretty as this one and hear that it’s also highly flavourful, you’ve got to marvel at what we were missing all those years when the apples we could purchase at grocery stores were limited to Red Delicious, Golden Delicious and one or two others.

It’s so nice to see one-size-fits-all marketing of apples being discredited, at least a little bit, making room for more diversity at the high end of the market and appreciation of the wide-ranging characteristics of a diversity of apples. Even old heritage varieties like Barnack Beauty.

This variety scores well in just about every category, with rich flavour and pretty, if somewhat subtle, colouring. It’s good for fresh eating and cooking, too.

Barnack Beauty Facts

Its origins

Raised from a seed in Barnack, Cambridgeshire, England, around 1840.

Flavour, aroma, texture

The dense flesh is aromatic and richly flavoured, with sharp acids.

Appearance

This medium-sized apple is boldly coloured, with an orange-red flush and red stripes over its golden background.

When they’re available

Late season (usually in mid-October).

Quality for fresh eating

Good.

Quality for cooking

Good.

Quality for cider

Not particularly known for use in cider, but can be useful in providing acid to blends.

Keeping ability

Very good (up to 5 months when kept refrigerated).