Are these crab apples?
- Thread starter Redcar
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I dunno, I always think of crabs as green but as it's really a term for wild or semi-wild apples that just don't get all big and juicy like 'proper' ones I spoze they can b any colour...
You can use any mix of apples you like to make cider. You want the juice to have a flavour you like with plenty of tannin (lacking in dessert and cooking apples) and acidity pH 3.2-3.8, 0.3-0.5% TTA(malic)
Crabs are generally good for tannin and acid, but /just/ crabs might be a bit much
You can use any mix of apples you like to make cider. You want the juice to have a flavour you like with plenty of tannin (lacking in dessert and cooking apples) and acidity pH 3.2-3.8, 0.3-0.5% TTA(malic)
Crabs are generally good for tannin and acid, but /just/ crabs might be a bit much
RobWalker
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I hear 20% crabs to 80% big juicy apples is a done thing...
I say go for it. There's no real way for you to know what they are without a science lab...Apples are like dogs, they have interbred into thousands of varieties over the years, and what you may call cookers/pink ladies/granny smiths etc are just a closest description rather than being of the actual cultivated variety you find in supermarkets...
Besides, they're in your garden. make the most of what's close at hand!
I say go for it. There's no real way for you to know what they are without a science lab...Apples are like dogs, they have interbred into thousands of varieties over the years, and what you may call cookers/pink ladies/granny smiths etc are just a closest description rather than being of the actual cultivated variety you find in supermarkets...
Besides, they're in your garden. make the most of what's close at hand!
calumscott
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They're not meddlars are they?
calumscott
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calumscott said:
Ah, no medlars look more like mini sharron fruit...
calumscott
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Just had a wee look through the wikipedia page on crab apples. I think they are.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malus
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Steam brew
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Yes one hundred percent crab apple possible John Downie :
wilsoa1111
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hmm, got some identical looking fruit planted on our rental property driveways... whens the best time to pick and how many kgs are we talking for a DJs worth??? If so maybe a few morning jogs will be in order :whistle:
then do i just blend it, add pectolase, squeeze through muslin and top up with normal AJ? :hmm:
then do i just blend it, add pectolase, squeeze through muslin and top up with normal AJ? :hmm:
Steam brew
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The best way to use crab apple is to pick mid sept, wash then cut into 4 boil until soft with 1/2 pint water strain overnight measure the juice add I pint of juice to 7 pints of apple juice add sugar to make og up to 1055 ferment as for all cider keep for some 6 months enjoy or make crab apple jelly using the same procedure to cook then add I ibs of sugar to I pint of liquid boil until set hope this helps :
