Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!
'Braeburn' is a classic that has been one of the most popular apple varieties in Germany for over 20 years and is known for its characteristic aroma and preparation options. If you have an apple tree of this variety in your garden yourself, you will surely be interested in the timing of the annual harvest so that you can finally enjoy its taste. In addition to 'Royal Gala', the variety from New Zealand meets the taste of German connoisseurs.
taste
'Braeburn' is an apple whose flavor is often described in one word: complex. The aroma combines several properties that make the apple such a popular variety in Germany. The balanced character is as follows:
- Sweet
- harsh
- juicy
- refreshing
- fine acidity
The combination of sweet and tart accents with the low acid content speaks for the aroma of the variety. The tart undertone goes perfectly with the intense sweetness and is carried by the refreshing apple juice. The flesh of the 'Braeburn' apples is quite hard compared to other varieties and has a good bite. Many people would describe this as crisp. As you eat the apple, special notes can be heard:
- rose
- plums
- some fennel
Yes, apple flavors can be described in a similar way to a wine or perfume, giving you an even better idea of what this strain will taste like. The slight astringency is also typical of the variety, i.e. a slightly rough feeling on the tongue. This is triggered by the tart accents when the table apple is eaten fresh.
tip: Refrain from eating the apple variety if you have an allergy to apples. The New Zealand creation is one of the varieties that has the worst effect on allergy sufferers and should therefore be avoided at all costs.
harvest
time
If you have an apple tree of this variety in your garden or are thinking about getting a Breaburn tree, you are probably wondering when you will be able to harvest the fruit. The apple harvest varies greatly from variety to variety and for this reason you need to know when this happens with 'Braeburn' in order to have a good overview of the degree of ripeness. This is one classic autumn variety, which due to the cooler temperatures in Germany from mid-October can be harvested. The apple tree prefers a Mediterranean climate and therefore ripens earliest in the southwestern wine-growing regions of Germany. Here, a harvest is already possible at the beginning of October.
tip: 'Braeburn' apples are among the varieties with the highest vitamin C content of all. These have a vitamin C content of 24 milligrams per 100 grams, which is almost twice as much as other varieties.
Harvesting: Tips
Harvesting the apples is not only the end of a successful year in terms of caring for the tree, but also relieves the plant, which can then fully prepare for the hibernation. Harvesting the apples is just as easy as with other specimens.
1. Don't take too long to pick apples. If the fruit hangs for too long after ripening, they will turn brown, lose their firmness and be even more susceptible to maggots and wildlife. Likewise, you should not let the fruit ripen for too short a time, otherwise they are inedible and sour and often much too firm to be able to chew them relaxed.
2. You can recognize ripe apples by the fact that they hang loosely on the branch. Take one of the apples in your hand and carefully turn it upwards. If the fruit comes off by itself without you having to use a lot of force, it's ready for harvest.
3. Don't let the color fool you. A pretty shade of red, as is usual for the variety, is no guarantee of a ripe apple.
4. Don't use the fallen fruit as a guide either. Apples have been known to shed their fruit if too many are trained. For this reason, every year you have too small fruits lying on the ground under the apple tree, which are inedible and only make themselves felt with an extremely sour kick in the mouth. This is typical of the so-called June fall, when the tree automatically sheds the apples due to insufficient fertilization.
5. Check your 'Braeburn' trees daily or periodically. Since an apple tree does not let all the fruit ripen on exactly the same date, you can even harvest on just three days in a row. Due to the staggered fruit ripening, you need to be on guard throughout the harvest season.
storage
After you have harvested the apples, you can easily store them until May and enjoy the aroma throughout the winter. However, the variety has one disadvantage if it is stored in a cool place for a longer period of time: the flesh becomes soft and after just a few hours is no longer as crisp as it was when the apple was harvested. Nevertheless, it is one of the apples that can be stored very easily for long periods of time.
Tip: Due to the characteristic taste, the apples of this variety are often used for different purposes. Not only are they pleasantly fruity raw, they are also ideal for use in cakes, pastries, juices, salads and compotes.