Rock

Why you should be excited

Rock is a small, tart cooking apple from Scotland. Not particularly well known, despite its evocative name.

The story of Rock

One suspects there's never been a crack marketing team guiding the fate of this apple variety

If there was, we likely would know a lot more about Rock than the sketchy description we've been able to find of an apple that made its way from Scotland to England just after the Second World War. The variety perhaps originated more than a half century earlier.

And it seems unlikely that a crack marketing team would christen an apple variety Rock, even if it is the hardest little apple you've ever seen. Who would dream of biting into a nice, fresh... Rock?

Despite the uncomplimentary name, this is a useful cooking apple, delivering pretty white flesh and good tartness in a small fruit with good texture.

Rock Facts

Its origins

Unknown origins in Scotland, likely sometime before the 1880s.

Flavour, aroma, texture

The white flesh is crisp and tart.

Appearance

A small apple.

When they’re available

Early season (usually in early September).

Quality for fresh eating

Mainly used for cooking.

Quality for cooking

Good.

Keeping ability

Good (about 2 months when kept refrigerated).