Braddick's Nonpareil apple
Malus domestica
The only variety in our top 5 best-flavoured apples which is not related to Cox, very strong sharp flavour but underlying sweetness too - tastes like sour honey
Parentage: Unknown
Origin: England
Introduced: 1818
Season: Nov-Feb
Apple cultivar ID: 100700
Braddick's Nonpareil is a relatively unknown but remarkably good English dessert apple. Rated by Hogg in his late 19th century 'The Fruit Manual' as "excellent", it is nevertheless quite a shock to anyone brought up on modern sweet dessert apples. Braddick's Nonpareil hits you with an intense dense sharpness which can be eye-watering when just picked, although it sweetens in storage (and this is a good variety to store for the winter). Crucially however, this sharpness is not simply acidic sourness (as you find in a cooking apple or a Granny Smith), but has a real depth and richness to it which is extremely satisfying. After a few mouthfuls, you start to realise that actually there is a background of sweetness in Braddick's Nonpareil that fills out the sharp tanginess into something that few other sharp-flavoured apples can attain.
The variety was raised by Mr John Braddick in England at the very start of the 19th century, and nothing is known of its origins. Hogg recommends it for espalier training and reports that it crops reliably.
Where to buy apple trees
No tree suppliers listed for this variety.
Where to buy fruit and related products
No fruit suppliers listed for this variety.
Apple tree register
Do you have a tree of this variety in your garden or orchard? If so please register here and contribute to our international register of apple trees.
Variety request
Is your favourite variety not listed here? We are constantly adding new variety details, so please use our contact form to suggest new varieties.
Articles
-
Your top 10 apple varieties
The top 10 most popular apple descriptions on this website. -
Top 10 apple varieties for the garden
Hamid Habibi of Keepers Nursery to recommend 10 apple varieties which are easy to grow in the northern European garden. -
Top 10 dessert apple varieties for flavour
Our list of the best apple varieties for flavor. -
Supermarket apples
Helps you compare some of the apple varieties listed on this website with popular supermarket apple varieties. -
Book reviews
We hope the following book reviews will help you to find out more about apples, orchards, and growing your own trees. -
Apples for Christmas
An old article fromby Dr. W. E. Shewell-Cooper, reproduced from Hertfordshire Countryside magazine, December 1973. -
Fruit trees on their own roots
Hugh Ermen, one of the top modern UK apple breeders, discusses the techniques and advantages of growing fruit trees without rootstocks - on their own roots. -
Apple breeding at East Malling Research
East Malling Research (EMR) is the principal UK provider of top-class basic, strategic and applied horticultural research and development for the perennial crops sector. Launched in 2004, EMR builds on a 90-year history and world-class reputation for revolutionary research in this field. -
Yorkshire apples
Apples, gardening and orchards in Yorkshire, UK -
Orchard marketing
The potential for marketing produce from local orchards in Yorkshire and Humberside in the UK - a report on the viability of establishing supply chains to link local consumers and local orchards in the UK Countryside Stewardship Scheme.