Novosibirski Sweet

Why you should be excited

Novosibirski Sweet is about the sweetest little apple you’ll find. Often with more than 20 per cent sugar.

The story of Novosibirski Sweet

Given the hazy history of so many apple varieties and the fact that they come from all over the planet, it’s not surprising that we have a variety or two in our orchard we have had difficulty documenting.

It took more than six years - and the assistance of John Shepherd of Oak Hill Orchard at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore - for us to figure out the proper name of this variety, which we had received labelled as Novabirski Sweet. But we could find no references to such a variety.

But John had run into this apple before, so on his advice, we switched around a few letters in its name and discovered the obscure, but real variety named Novosibirski Sweet.

Loaded with sugar, this is a past winner of the ‘sweetest apple’ award at Salt Spring Island’s Fall Fair and it's a really small apple that'll have you thinking 'crab-apple' when you see it.

Tiny, obscure and likely the sweetest apple you’ll ever taste.

Novosibirski Sweet Facts

Its origins

Discovered in Russia, date unknown.

Flavour, aroma, texture

The dense yellowish flesh is incredibly sweet. Apparently up to 20 per cent sugar.

Appearance

This is a small yellow (almost orange, actually) apple, usually with a red blush on the sunny side.

When they’re available

Mid-season (usually in late September).

Quality for fresh eating

Good (as long as you love 'em sweet).

Quality for cooking

Mainly used for fresh eating.

Quality for cider

It's sweet enough to be useful in cider, but we haven't seen evidence that Novosibirski Sweet has been used extensively that way.

Keeping ability

Limited (a few weeks maximum).