If you haven’t yet tried a Rubinette apple, you’re missing out! This apple is so delicious some people even say it’s one of the best tasting apple varieties in the world. It’s a fantastic choice for apple enthusiasts with it’s quality flavor and attractive appearance.
Keep reading to find out more about this outstanding apple, including recipe ideas and tips on how to grow your very own Rubinette apples at home!
History of the Rubinette Apple
The Rubinette was developed in Rafz, Switzerland by Walter Hauenstein between 1964-1982. Hauenstein was trying to create a new version of the Golden Delicious apple with a deeper flavor by pollinating Golden Delicious apples with varieties like Cox’s Orange Pippin apples. He ended up with a truly delicious apple with a unique flavor all it’s own.
Characteristics of The Rubinette Apple
A mature Rubinette apple tree grows to around 20-25 feet tall. It has dark green leaves in spring and summer that turn a beautiful yellow or orange in the fall. The tree produces fragrant, pale pink flowers that turn into the yummiest apples. The apples themselves have very pretty orange to pale red stripes with a light green and yellow background. The skin can appear more green in warmer climates and more red in colder climates. The flesh is crisp, off white, and juicy.
Eating Them
What do they taste like
So what does the tastiest apple in the world taste like? Well, part of what makes this apple so great is that it has a very balanced flavor. It’s tangy and slightly sharp with a sweet aftertaste. Some people say it’s flavor is like honey or vanilla. It’s the perfect blend of sharpness and sweetness.
What do they go with
Rubinette apples pair especially well with sharp cheeses and savory salads. They are delicious raw and the balanced flavor is perfect anywhere you usually like to use raw apples.
How to use them in Cooking
They are most often enjoyed raw but Rubinette’s work well in cooking as well! Try baking them into a pie or tart, or make fresh applesauce.
Snacking
Rubinette apples are so delicious and crisp, they are fantastic for snacking and eating raw. Try slicing the apples thinly and stacking them with cheese. Or dip them in your favorite nut butter for a healthy and balanced snack.
Recipe Ideas
Health Benefits of Rubinette Apples
Apples are so good for you, including the Rubinette variety! They are high in fiber and antioxidants and have many health benefits including lowering the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer, and improving your immune system and gut health. You can chow down on these yummy apples guilt free knowing they are providing not only a tasty snack but important nutrients for your body!
Growing At Home
Curious about how to grow these delicious apples at home? Unfortunately, the Rubinette apple tree is not very easy to grow, but it’s so tasty it just might be worth the effort! You can grow your very own Rubinette apples in zones 4-9. They like well-drained soil and prefer warm climates over wetter climates.
Pruning
Regular pruning is essential for healthy growth and optimal production of most apple trees and this is especially true for Rubinette apples. Here’s an article with tips on how to prune apple trees.
Thinning
It can be hard to pluck off healthy looking fruit but If you don’t, you’ll end up with lots of really tiny apples. Rubinette apples tend to be on the smaller side, especially in the first few years. To get bigger and healthier apples you’ll want to thin the plant by plucking or trimming off apples in late spring. To improve the size of the fruit don’t be afraid to thin aggressively! Leave just one apple per cluster.
Pollination
Rubinette apple trees need another apple tree nearby to pollinate them. There are many great varieties that will work for this purpose. Fuji, Granny Smith, and Gala apples are all good choices to pair with your Rubinette apple tree.
Disease and Pests
There is good and bad news when it comes to the Rubinette apple tree and disease. The bad news is this tree is susceptible to disease, especially apple scab. The good news is, the disease doesn’t typically affect the taste of the apples (as long as the disease doesn’t progress too far), it just makes them look unattractive. For more information on apple tree diseases here’s an article for you
Pests you’re likely to see include aphids, mites, and caterpillars. The best tip for dealing with pests and disease is to identify and treat them early before there’s too much damage. If you care for your tree properly, you’ll be able to eliminate problems quickly and even prevent some issues altogether.
Harvesting
Your apples will be ready to harvest from mid September-mid October. They can stay on the tree for a while but they taste best when picked as soon as they’re ripe. Check your tree often so you don’t miss out on the best possible flavor after all the hard work you put in growing them! For all you need to know about harvesting apples, read our apple picking guide.
Where To Buy Rubinette Apple Trees
To get your own young Rubinette apple tree check with your local nursery in early spring to see if they carry this variety. If not, you can order trees from several online retailers. Don’t forget to purchase a pollination partner as well!
Where To Buy Rubinette Apples
The Rubinette isn’t widely grown commercially in the United States but there are still a number of smaller orchards that grow it across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Check with your local orchards and farmer’s markets to see if they carry this apple.
If you happen to be in Switzerland in the fall (doesn’t that sound nice?), you won’t have any trouble finding Rubinette’s in a grocery store as they are still grown commercially there.
Wrapping up the Rubinette Apple
It’s too bad the Rubinette isn’t widely grown commercially in the United Sates because it’s such a delicious apple! Fortunately there are still lots of orchards who grow it so even though it’s rare it’s not impossible to find.
Have you tried the Rubinette apple? If so, would you say it’s one of the tastiest apples you’ve ever had? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
Excited for more apple content? Visit our apple trees page to learn more about apple planting, growing, picking, cooking, and more!