Coat Jersey

Why you should be excited

Coat Jersey is an old English full bittersweet cider apple that had a moment of prominence during the 1970s.

The story of Coat Jersey

Popular trends are funny things, with fleeting popularity affecting a tiny proportion of the great and the banal, seemingly arbitrarily.

This seems true of all things and helps explain why Coat Jersey, a commendable cider variety that originated in 1850s Somerset, might rise to prominence in the 1970s before receding back into relative anonymity.

Whatever the trend, Coat Jersey is an apple of good quality, providing a sweet, bitter apple grown on a moderately vigorous tree with good scab resistance. Not super juicy, this is an apple that adds character to a cider blend.

Whatever the trend of the day.

Coat Jersey Facts

Its origins

Discovered in Coat Village, Somerset, England, 1850s.

Flavour, aroma, texture

Provides distinctive and sweet, bitter and low-acid juice.

Appearance

A small green apple covered with maroon stripes and russet.

When they’re available

Late season (in our orchard, we expect early October).

Quality for fresh eating

Nope, just for cidermaking.

Quality for cooking

Would not work well.

Quality for cider

Very good.

Keeping ability

Limited (sweat for about 6 weeks and then press promptly).