Karin Schneider

Why you should be excited

Karin Schneider is a brightly coloured sport of Ingrid Marie and is a fresh eating apple from Denmark.

The story of Karin Schneider

It’s a bit tricky to know when a mutation of an apple variety -- often just a single branch that's a bit different from the original -- should be treated as just a minor variation and when it should be treated as a distinct, new variety.

We tend to assume it's a new variety when someone has gone to the trouble of naming the sport with a completely distinct moniker. Not just Red Gravenstein or Spartan Large, for example, but a completely different name.

Such is the case with the pretty Karin Schneider, which is a highly coloured sport of the Danish variety, Ingrid Marie.

Appearing a couple of decades after Ingrid Marie, this one is quite brilliant in its rich red colouring and is desirable enough in eating quality to be grown commercially in a few places in northern Europe.

Karin Schneider Facts

Its origins

Discovered in Denmark, sometime before 1953.

Flavour, aroma, texture

This highly coloured version of Ingrid Marie is rich and juicy in a good year, with lightly aromatic flavour.

Appearance

A dark red flush and striping dominate this medium to large-sized apple.

When they’re available

Mid-season (usually in late September).

Quality for fresh eating

Good.

Quality for cooking

Mainly used for fresh eating.

Quality for cider

Not particularly known for use in cider.

Keeping ability

Good (up to 3 months when kept refrigerated).