It's apple season again, and the markets are filling up with varieties bearing lovely names, from honeycrisp to autumn glory, with plenty of variations on gold, sweet, delicious, sun, and beauty in between. But not all apples are into being judged by some fake-grin, beauty-queen standard. Some apples don't need to keep waving you down with a name that is really just a desperate cry of "look how yummy I am! Don't I look pretty?" Here are 18 varieties that, frankly, don't care what you think. They know their worth and don't need to act all cute. They aren't bad apples, but they are badass.
1. STARK'S EARLIEST
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2. SPARTAN
Stands there in the frost without a word of complaint.
3. BLOODY PLOUGHMAN
They say in 19th century Scotland a gamekeeper shot down a ploughman who was stealing some apples. Those apples, thrown on a trash heap, sprouted a seedling, and that's how the bloody ploughman lived on.
4. COEUR DE BOEUF
That's right, "heart of beef." And if that doesn't sound delicious to you, your loss.
5. DOG'S SNOUT
Yeah, that's what it looks like. You got a problem with that?
6. RAZOR RUSSET
Comes from Kentucky and ain't amused by you.
7. TINA CRAB APPLE
Will also cut you.
8. WINTERSTEIN
Cold and grim as winter, hard and unfeeling as stone.
9. NONNETIT BASTARD
Nonnetit bastard … NONNETIT BASTARD.
10. NEW ROCK PIPPIN
Not your father's rock.
11. PURITAN
No time for your apple-bobbing frivolities.
12. TREMLETT'S BITTER
Has seen too much of this world to be sweet.
13. LEATHER COAT
Bite it.
14. WYKEN PIPPIN
For wycked wyccan womyn.
15. GLOCKENAPFEL
Thinks you're a dummkopf.
16. RUSTY COAT
Tougher than tetanus.
17. AMERICAN MOTHER
You lay a hand on her seedlings, she will crush you like a cider press.
18. UTTWILER SPÄTLAUBER
Excellent storability. Heavy metal umlaut.
