Apples of Uncommon Character: Heirlooms, Modern Classics, and Little-Known Wonders

by Rowan Jacobsen

Overview

In his classic A Geography of Oysters, Rowan Jacobsen forever changed the way America talks about its best bivalve. Now he does the same for our favorite fruit, showing us that there is indeed life beyond Red Delicious-and even Honeycrisp. While supermarkets limit their offerings to a few waxy options, apple trees with lives spanning human generations are producing characterful varieties-and now they are in the midst of a rediscovery. From heirlooms to new designer breeds, a delicious diversity of apples is out there for the eating.

Apples have strong personalities, ranging from crabby to wholesome. The Black Oxford apple is actually purple, and looks like a plum. The Knobbed Russet looks like the love child of a toad and a potato. (But don't be fooled by its looks.) The D'Arcy Spice leaves a hint of allspice on the tongue. Cut Hidden Rose open and its inner secret is revealed.

With more than 150 art-quality color photographs, Apples of Uncommon Character shows us the fruit in all its glory. Jacobsen collected specimens both common and rare from all over North America, selecting 120 to feature, including the best varieties for eating, baking, and hard-cider making. Each is accompanied by a photograph, history, lore, and a list of characteristics. The book also includes 20 recipes, savory and sweet, resources for buying and growing, and a guide to the best apple festivals. It's a must-have for every foodie.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781620402276
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	09/02/2014
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 9.80(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Rowan Jacobsen is the James Beard Award-winning author of A Geography of Oysters, Fruitless Fall, The Living Shore, and American Terroir. He has written for the New York Times, Harper's, Outside, Mother Jones, Orion, and others, and his work has been anthologized in The Best American Science and Nature Writing and Best Food Writing collections. Whether visiting endangered oystermen in Louisiana or cacao-gathering tribes in the Bolivian Amazon, his subject is how to maintain a sense of place in a world of increasing placelessness. He lives in rural Vermont.

Editorial Reviews

[Jacobsen] covers 123 varieties (a small sample of the thousands grown worldwide) with a photo of each. He's an excellent guide, giving taste, texture, cooking and storage profiles.” —Florence Fabricant, The New York Times

“Apples of Uncommon Character pays tribute to some of North America's finest and most obscure specimens, reviving the lost art of apple appreciation in the process.” —Salon

From the Publisher