Aunt Hannah

Apple

Aunt Hannah

Origin/History

Originated in Essex County, Massachusetts. All three sources confirm this provenance.

Tree

Of slow growth. (Downing)

Fruit

Size: Medium, by all accounts.

Form: Sources differ slightly: Downing describes the fruit as oblate, nearly globular; Elliott as roundish; Thomas as roundish, approaching ovate. The preponderance of sources suggests a rounded, compact form, with Thomas's "approaching ovate" suggesting occasional elongation.

Stem: Short, inserted in a cavity surrounded by russet. (Downing)

Cavity: Surrounded by russet. (Downing)

Calyx: Closed. (Downing)

Basin: Very shallow. (Downing)

Skin: Golden yellowish, sprinkled with russet (Downing); described as light yellow by Elliott and straw color by Thomas — consistent in hue, with Downing adding the characteristic russet speckling.

Flesh/Flavor: Flesh yellow and fine-grained (Downing); tender and crisp (Elliott). Flavor is sub-acid and pleasant (Elliott, Thomas), mild (Thomas), with a rich, peculiar quality described by Downing as slightly musky. Thomas notes the flavor resembles that of the Newtown Pippin in character. Quality rated "Good" by Downing; "very good" by Elliott and Thomas.

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

December to February (Downing); winter (Elliott). A mid-to-late winter keeper.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 3 period pomological works

View original book sources (3)

Aunt Hannah.

Origin, Essex Co., Mass. Tree of slow growth. Fruit medium, oblate, nearly globular. Skin golden yellowish, sprinkled with russet. Stem short, inserted in a cavity surrounded by russet. Calyx closed. Basin very shallow. Flesh yellow, fine-grained, with a rich peculiar flavor, slightly musky. Good. December to February.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Aunt Hannah.

From Massachusetts. Fruit, medium, roundish, light yellow; flesh tender, crisp, sub-acid; "very good." Winter.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Aunt Hannah. Size medium, roundish, approaching ovate; straw color, with a very pleasant mild sub-acid, fine flavor, resembling in character the Newtown Pippin. Origin, Essex County, Mass.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)