Cox Orange

Also known as Cox Orange Pippin in the United States, where it is probably the best known of the Pippin family, it is also very popular in northern Europe. I can remember the large Cox Orange tree I used to climb in order to reach the apples on the highest branches, which had been left on the tree for the time being. Unfortunately for me, this was something I was not supposed to do, because in addition to being a delicious eating apple, Cox Orange apples were considered the apple to keep for long winter storage when I was growing up in Sweden. The origin of this apple, as I learned it in Sweden, is that an English brewmaster by the name of R. Cox planted nine seeds of the old English variety Ribston. Two seeds developed into trees and became the mothers of Cox Orange and its close cousin, Cox Pomona. Cox Orange is one of the best all-around apples; it is deliciously aromatic, with crisp, juicy yellow flesh. It is medium in size and has a golden skin with a pretty dull brownish-green overlay. One of the distinct characteristics of this apple is that its stem always grows at a discernible angle rather than straight up and down. Season: Late fall to early spring.