Apricot Varieties

There are many varieties of apricots, each with their own special character. We grow ten varieties in total. In terms of tonnage about half our production are of the European variety and about half are of the Canadian variety.

High Blush Varieties:

Orange Red

This is one of the sweeter apricots, with a wide range of uses. It is best eaten at room temperature straight out of the box, as that is when it is at it's sweetest. It can come in quite a large size, with an average of about 50-55mm in diameter. There should be no green areas on the fruit, but instead a bright red blush should present itself. For maximum sweetness, it should be just firm to the touch.

 

 

 

Palstyn

 

Palstyn is one of the European styles of fruit. It has a hardish skin to it, but it will always be clean and presentable. It is not one of the sweetest varieties, but has a great aftertaste, once devoured. Unlike the Orange Red, it does not have such a prominant blush, but should be a more consistant orange colour all the way round the piece of fruit, with hints of blushing.

 

 

Sundrop

Sundrops are again a more yellow-orange fruit all the way round, with no blush whatsoever. This dainty (bite sized) piece of fruit has a lovely soft almost fuzzy feel to it, with very light 'hair'. The Sundrop is one of the sweeter fruits, and flowers around the middle to the end of our harvest. It is great for a small snack for the kids, or to have on a front counter of your business, as it will immediatley attract attention. There can be a minor red speckeling on the surface of the fruit, which arises from the harsh Australian sun.

 

 

 

 

Goldrich

Goldrich is a variety that has to be cross polinated with another (Rival). This fruit can often be quite large in size, and comes with an all round orange touch. Spotting or Red Russet on the fruit is common, as it is indicative of the variety. It is great eating with an initial sharp bite, which then eases into the sweetness of the fruit. The blossom and bud set are beautiful to watch, as the whole hill they are planted on, turns a very light pink colour, and is beautiful at first light.

 

 

Rival

Rival is one of Qew's premium fruits with its large size, and moist flesh. The Rival boasts an all round blush in most pieces of fruit with minor blemishes, making it a clean and well rounded piece of fruit. It makes a great relish or conserve, and a mean apricot chili.

 

 

 

Solarmate

Solarmate is another very clean piece of fruit. It has a sweet taste and is medium to large apricot. This fruit is one of the up and commings, with it only being in its second year of production this year. It has a full orange coverage around the fruit with slight sun spots, but no real red blush.

 

 

Bergeron

The bergeron is one of the best looking fruits, it has a very nice blush to the outside of it, and can come in a variety of sizes. The fruit is usually medium to large, with very few coming in under 50mm in diameter. The bergeron skin has a slight bite to it, but once you hit the flesh you get the full extent of the sweentess of the fruit.

 

 

 

 

Low Blush Varieties:

Moorpark

The moorpark is a traditional Tasmanian piece of fruit, although they are green and small, dont let that fool you, or put you off. Once it has a slight orange tinge to it, it is ripe to eat, and is one of the sweetest apricots you will probably taste. It is a great apricot to make jams and leathers with as it is so full of sugar, you do not need to add much more after cooking.

 

 

Hunter

Hunter is an interesting variety, with a combination of sizes as well as colours. It is usually not a high blush but has been known to produce a red skin, once in a while. This variety of fruit will ripen post harvest. Most varieties apart from this, and the Moorpark do not ripen once they have been picked off the tree. This means that the Hunter will still change colour, and get sweeter the longer it is left, dont leave it too long however, as once it has reached its satuation point, it will start to detiorate from there.

 

 

 

 

Apricots tend to also be more versatile, holding better and providing stronger flavour when cooked. Why not visit our receipt box to see the many yummy but wholesome dishes that can be created with apricots. Our ideas range from really simple ones such as how to use an apricot to provide moisture and flavour in a simple sandwich, thereby making fat-building butter and/or mayonnaise unnecessary, or how to enhance a salad, thereby reducing the amount of oil and dressing. At the other extreme, our recipe box also contains several wonder sauces that can turn a pork or fowl dish into Haute Cuisine, provide depth of taste in a curry or turn plain vanilla into a summer ice cream dream. There are also cozy desserts and healthy munchies. Please click here for the Recipe Box.