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I have two medium-sized green-yellow apples with small rosy blushes washed over the peel in varying intensities. The lenticel dots, though present, are not obvious.
Each has some modest ribbing and is a little oblated at bottom and top. They are temptingly firm in hand.
Inside, white flesh is medium coarse and juicy, generally sweet and balanced. There's a floral quality and some generic berry flavors, sort of a sweeter McIntosh light, along with the taste of table grapes.
These are not terribly strong flavors but work well together. There is a pleasing astringent quality to the finish.
In these parts, it is ready towards the end of August. I found mine in Vermont.
It's my practice, when I can, to try at least two examples of my apple du jour. I did not get around to tasting my Blushing for more than two weeks.
It was still good. Not bad for an early apple!
There are two competing claims about the origin of this apple, but both agree it is a product of a modern European breeding program. The question is, which one?
Germany
The plant patent for that variety says is a Waltz x Pinova cross. (In the Americas, Pinova is often marketed as Piñata).
Czech Republic
According to the patent, Waltz, the German cultivar's seed parent, is Moonlight's pollen parent. Moonlight's seed parent is an unpatented variety called Goldstar.
Both patents describe their tree as "columnar," making it suitable for small spaces. So, there are several similarities that might be sources of confusion.
Perhaps that is why Hackett's orchard of Vermont, where I bought my samples, has this to say about Blushing Delight's origins:
Based on the descriptions in the patents, I think Moonlight an unlikely match, unless my samples were picked early, which they do not appear to be.
It's not clear that the German story is correct, either.
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