Description
A mid- to late-season gourmet dessert apple, Reine de Reinette is good for eating fresh as well for cooking, and it stores well.
Discovered: 1770, France
Parentage: Unknown
Harvest: Midseason
History
Reine de Reinette’s origin is uncertain, but it probably began in northern Europe. It first became known in France around 1770. A probable history of this apple is that it was discovered in Holland and named Kroon Renet (Reinette of the Crown). After migrating to France, it was renamed Reine de Reinette. Around the same time, it may also have migrated from Holland to England and given the name Golden Winter Pearmain. English growers eventually realized that Golden Winter Pearmain was identical with Reine de Reinette, and renamed the apple King of the Pippins. To further confuse matters, Reine de Reinette was imported to England from France and renamed Queen of the Pippins. Most pomologists believe that all of these names refer to the same apple.