Carmeliter Reinette

Why you should be excited

Carmeliter Reinette is a very old French apple so obscure it makes Calville Blanc d'Hiver seem like Gala in comparison.

The story of Carmeliter Reinette

The deeper we got into this apple thing, the more varieties we added to our orchard about which there just wasn't a whole lot of information on the internet or in our increasingly large collection of apple reference books.

Carmeliter Reinette, a 17th century French variety, was one of these. We knew it was an old variety. We knew it was considered tasty and useful for fresh eating as well as cooking and that it ripens late and keeps well. But that's about as far as we were able to go in our research.

Which pretty much left us to grow it, taste the fruit and learn about it through the experience of propagating it. And that's exactly what we're doing.

Carmeliter Reinette Facts

Its origins

Discovered in France, around 1667.

Flavour, aroma, texture

Sweet, crisp and aromatic with a moderately assertive apple flavour.

Appearance

A medium-sized apple with a gold-coloured background flushed with red. Often has russet as well.

When they’re available

Very late season (usually in November).

Quality for fresh eating

Good.

Quality for cooking

Good.

Quality for cider

Doesn't have a particular history as a cider apple, but -- like other heritage varieties -- it can contribute positively to cider blends.

Keeping ability

Good (2 or 3 months when kept refrigerated).