Danziger Kantenapfel

Danziger Kantenapfel probably originated in Danzig (Gdansk) Poland before 1760. In 2014 a Danziger tree was discovered by Yves Van Damme growing in the front yard of a sea-side cottage in Harpswell, ME. Ives introduced it to our fruit exploring buddy, Roberto McIntire who in turn brought it to our attention. No one knew what this deeply ribbed apple was. Roberto called it “Lumpy Red” which described it perfectly. I did the identification using Johann Hermann Knoop’s 1766 highly stylized book of European cultivars called Pomologia. Danziger Kantenapfel can be found on the plate labeled “TAB IV” adjacent to page 8. It has to be it. How this amazing out-of-place apple got to a cottage by the sea, I imagine no one will ever know although the cottage sits across the road from the location of the former Hotel Germania which dates from a time when the coast of Maine was the preferred summer retreat for the rich and famous.

The fruit which also goes by the alternate spellings Danziger Kantenappel and Dantziger Kantapfel is large-very large, nearly solid red, and deeply ribbed. The basin is bunched up, lumpy and furrowed with extra bunches of flesh like puckered up lips. It’s so deeply ribbed that you might not believe it was an apple. It makes good late fall, fresh eating and sauce; it’s probably not a pie apple but we haven’t tried to cook with it. Not currently growing at SCF but should be!