Picking British Apples From Our Orchard

As-salam `alaykum! *munches on apple*

So, guess who got stung by a wasp? ME! My shoulder's still reverberating from the sting of evil wasps - but that's another story. We took a stroll in our apple orchard and picked beautiful drops of sunshine known an apples.

Alhamdulillah, all praise be to Allah, we've been growing apples for several years now. This year I tried not to poke the trees or give them any boosters (synthetic feeds) so they've been growing with Allah protecting them. And I must say, they have grown the best to date.

Our orchards are in a previous property where the back yard was converted into a bit of a jungle. Creatures, plants and flowers have all intertwined quite artistically. To get to the apples I had to climb over the roses and was left was several scraps and cuts. No pain, no gain, right? But just look at'em. Gosh, they're spectacular.

These are Discovery apples. Quintessentially English in flavour (they're sharp-sweet), I think these are historically a hybrid imported from Australia (found in Britain, Essex). The skin is striped in sun tinted yellows and speckled red with freckles all over. A twist this way and it breaks right off.

Discovery apples don't grow too big, they're large enough to palm and fit great into the kid's lunch-boxes (I say that like I have children, I don't). Harvest season is actually mid-September - the end of Autumn - but given English weather was a little chilly then, I picked them towards the end of the month, the perfect time really. The fruit is ripe, crunchy, with a sugary tang and floral scent. It's like eating a juicy crystal. I think that's the best way to describe it. A juicy crystal.

I'm... just... out of... reach... *climbs tree*

One branch on the tree that I could reach had amazing 10 apples. 10!

After the picking and tasting I counted a total of 80 apples (some got nicked, and eaten). We carried them in baskets, in bags, in our t-shirt pockets and on our heads like traditional African women. Bringing them home, I dipped into my recipe book for interesting ideas... coming soon!

You want more, oh fruity?
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