Albemarle Pippin

The Albemarle Pippin originated in 1700 near the village of Newtown on Long Island, New York. Col. Thomas Walker of Castle Hill brought the variety back to Albemarle County as he returned from the battle of Brandywine in 1777. It was grown widely in Virginia by 18th century agriculturists, including George Washington, John Hartwell Cocke, and Thomas Jefferson. The crisp, juicy, firm flesh and distinctive taste, along with its excellent keeping qualities, made the Pippin the most prized of 18th century American apples. It attracted notoriety when Andrew Stevenson, American minister to St. James, presented the young Victoria with a gift basket of the apples in 1838. Never did a barrel of apples obtain so much reputation for the fruits of our country, Sallie Coles Stevenson reported. In appreciation, Parliament permitted the Virginia apple to enter Britain duty-free, making it an important and pricey export. After World War I, Parliament levied duties again, and the Pippin's market waned. For those who prize a rich, complex flavor and firm, juicy texture, this apple has few peers.