Morgan Sweet apple

Malus domestica

An old cider apple variety, popular in the "west country" of the UK, and sweet enough to eat fresh.

Last updated 10 Jun 2010 by Orange Pippin.

Summary

  • Parentage: Unknown
  • Origin: United Kingdom
  • Introduced: 18th century
  • Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 118600

Visitor comments

(Use the form at the bottom to add your own comments about this variety)

01 Jun 2010 Carole (Nee Ridewood) AshleyDEVON, United Kingdom
I attended West Horrington Infant School (near Wells in Somerset) in the late 40's/early 50's and a local farmer, Mr Hodges, from East Horrington, would bring a supply of this wonderful apple into school. He had probably had enough of us youngsters scrumping them - he even put geese into the orchard..... But I will never forget the flavour - sheer heaven! I haven't tasted anything like it since. I would love to know where I could buy some.
16 May 2010 Jean LippettSOMERSET, United Kingdom
I would happily send you some, but there doesn't seem to be any blossom this year on mine. That should mean a bumper crop next year, but September 2011 does seem like a long time to wait, doesn't it?
15 Jan 2010 Mansel LoveringSWANSEA, United Kingdom
As a young boy I was often sent to queue for whatever people were standing in line for, be it potatoes, carrots, of other vegetables. We did not see bananas, oranges, grapes or lemons, etc., from 1939 until a year or so after the war ended in 1945. Just now and again I was able to get a few apples. They were shaped like a pig's snout and my mother told me they were Morgan's Sweet. Oh! Boy! I would certainly queue for a pound of 'em now! It's more than nostalgia. It's not because we were deprived of fruit, especially apples that I loved the Morgan's Sweet. They had a flavour once tasted could never be forgotten. I enjoy Spartan apples nowadays, but they too have such a short season.. Please could some kind orchard keeper contact me in September when his/her Morgan's Sweet will be available. I'll pay over the odds for a couple of pounds, plus postage. Thanks. M.L.
29 Dec 2009 Jean LippettSOMERSET, United Kingdom
I have several huge ancient Morgan Sweet trees in South Somerset, and I get visitors every autumn who have childhood nostalgia for the taste. They don't have any redness about them, similar to a golden delicious in appearance. They ripen quite early, in September at the latest and used to be biennial, though mine seem to be fruiting every year this decade. Very vigorous, they're been mistaken for perry pear trees and grew to about forty feet high till we decided to crop a winter's firewood by bringing the highest branches down to ten feet from the ground. They took that in their stride and are now thriving, despite being hollow-trunked and full of mistletoe. They were very mature trees in photos taken in the 1940s, I think they must be about 100 years old now. Showerings used to take the fruit for Babycham in the 50s.
06 Oct 2009 KenNORTH WALES, United Kingdom
hi im just wondering if the morgan sweet apple is the s ame as a variety as the apple that i have come across it is blood red when peeled and has a very peculiar taste i call it a blood apple but have no idea what the true variety is called only that it is in a field and there is no other fruit trees ie pears plums only a couple of apple trees
21 Aug 2009 Timothy PurnellBRISTOL, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, United Kingdom
My dear father and mother during their childhood in the 1920's fondly ate Morgan Sweet apples in preference to all other varieties because they were cheap and sweet. They would purchase them from fruit shops -- barrel boys did not usually sell them -- for 1d each ( half a new penny) Much later in the 1960s my father often lamented their disappearance and other kinds of delicious old apples too when commercialism indoctrinated young people to accept the new tasteless varieties. My mother, who is still very much alive and 95, would buy Morgan Sweets ( and blood oranges) with her very precious pocket money, seldom chocolate or sweets.
14 Aug 2009 Huw DaviesTEMPLETON , NARBERTH, PEMBROKESHIRE, United Kingdom
I have just tried cider made of Morgan Sweet,and was very impressed. My wife and I are attempting to grow some fruit trees and are toying with the idea of growing some Morgan sweets possibly making some cider,if not using them for eating . We are total novices,and will accept any advice given,gratefully.
04 Aug 2009 Ron ClarkSOUTH WALES, United Kingdom
When we were young, in Bristol, about 1941 we cycled with our Dad to Severn Beach/Aust area where there was a big orchard of Morgan Sweets. We filled up with sacks of apples. mostly fallers, not too many wasp damages and very cheap, then all cycled back to Bristol St. Pauls with our booty. The apples didn't keep and were consumed rapidly by the entire family. I can still taste them today.
28 Jul 2009 Steve CookBRIGHOUSE WEST YORKSHIRE, United Kingdom
I remember eating Morgan Sweets as a child in 1948. The tree was in an orchard at Over near Almondsbury, just north of Bristol. The orchard disappeared many years ago. The taste was indeed sweet, pleasantly distinctive and slightly dry on the tongue. I have never tasted an apple remotely like it since. I am a little surprised that it is considered solely a cider apple.
10 May 2009 Debi HearnUnited Kingdom
My Mum remembers Morgan Sweets from her childhood and loved this variety. Does anyone know where I can buy some for her, she could do with cheering up.
24 Apr 2009 Jenny McwilliamLEICESTERSHIRE, United Kingdom
In a mixed orchard of cider apples down in Somerset during the war it was always the Morgan Sweets that I went for, as a child. Pale golden skins, tapered shape and very sweet in taste. A treasured memory.
09 Jan 2009 BarbaraILMINSTER, SOMERSET,UK, United Kingdom
I haven't tasted Morgan Sweet as an apple but the cider made from this variety is out of this world. Luckly we have Perry's Cider not far from us at Dowlish Wake, where we can buy bottles of this exquisite drink!
27 Oct 2008 Anthony WoolmingtonTAUNTON SOMERSET, United Kingdom
For many years my Farmer friend and mentor William Foster of Whites Farm , North Newton, Bridgwater. Somerset. made his own cider at the farm usually making about 20 barrels a year.It was all made from the apples in his own orchard -namely Morgan Sweets. Unfortunately dead and sorely missed. Wonderful cider the best I've had. How I miss those days helping Bill put up a cheese......
18 Oct 2008 P.SheppardSOUTH GLOS, United Kingdom
I remember these from the 1940s. They were medium size and had a bitter sweet taste which I did not like.
20 Sep 2008 Bob MasonWEST CAMEL, United Kingdom
About to make a quantity of Morgans Sweet cider (5 - 10 galls) small scale. But will keep you updated on progress and results. 2006 cider making 10 galls was very good - made from any apple available. Experienced makers very impressed with results.

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