Dabinett
Encyclopedia
Dabinett is a variety of apple
, customarily used in Somerset
for making cider
.
, Somerset. The exact genetic makeup of Dabinett is unknown, though one 'parent' was probably the Chisel Jersey apple, a similar late "bittersweet" variety. The variety became very popular and was widely planted across the south-west of England.
A seedling of this variety, known as Black Dabinett, also locally known as "Tommy Rodford", arose at Kingsbury Episcopi
near Martock
. It is similar to Dabinett proper but is purplish in colour and generally more vigorous.
, Dabinett has small, yellow-green fruit flecked with red, usually harvested in November in the United Kingdom
. The flesh is greenish and aromatic. The tree has a relatively small and spreading habit; it has a high resistance to apple scab
.
The fruit is of sufficient quality to make a single varietal cider, and a number of commercial cider manufacturers produce ciders made solely or primarily with Dabinett apples, including Thatchers and Sheppy's.
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
, customarily used in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
for making cider
Cider
Cider or cyder is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from apple juice. Cider varies in alcohol content from 2% abv to 8.5% abv or more in traditional English ciders. In some regions, such as Germany and America, cider may be termed "apple wine"...
.
History
Dabinett probably dates from the early 1900s, when it was found by William Dabinett growing as a wilding (a natural seedling) in a hedge at Middle Lambrook, South PethertonSouth Petherton
South Petherton is a small country town and civil parish on the River Parrett in the South Somerset district of Somerset, England. It is east of Ilminster and north west of Crewkerne. It had a population of approximately 3,200 in 2002...
, Somerset. The exact genetic makeup of Dabinett is unknown, though one 'parent' was probably the Chisel Jersey apple, a similar late "bittersweet" variety. The variety became very popular and was widely planted across the south-west of England.
A seedling of this variety, known as Black Dabinett, also locally known as "Tommy Rodford", arose at Kingsbury Episcopi
Kingsbury Episcopi
Kingsbury Episcopi is a village and civil parish on the River Parrett in Somerset, England, situated north west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 1,277. The parish includes the villages of West Lambrook, East Lambrook and Thorney.-History:The "Episcopi"...
near Martock
Martock
Martock is a large village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated on the edge of the Somerset Levels north west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district. The parish includes Hurst, approximately one mile south of the village, and Bower Hinton, which is located at the western end of the...
. It is similar to Dabinett proper but is purplish in colour and generally more vigorous.
Characteristics
Classed as a "bittersweet" cider appleCider apple
Cider apples are a group of apple cultivars grown for their use in cider production. In the UK the Long Ashton Research Station categorised Cider apples in 1903 into four main types according to the nature of their flavour components. For Cider production it is important that the fruit contains...
, Dabinett has small, yellow-green fruit flecked with red, usually harvested in November in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The flesh is greenish and aromatic. The tree has a relatively small and spreading habit; it has a high resistance to apple scab
Apple scab
Apple scab is a disease to Malus trees, such as apple trees, caused by the ascomycete fungus Venturia inaequalis. The disease manifests as dull black or grey-brown lesions on the surface of tree leaves, buds or fruits. Lesions may also appear less frequently on the woody tissues of the tree. Fruits...
.
The fruit is of sufficient quality to make a single varietal cider, and a number of commercial cider manufacturers produce ciders made solely or primarily with Dabinett apples, including Thatchers and Sheppy's.