An Egremont Russet apple, almost completely covered in russeting
Russeting on apples is a particular type of skin, slightly rough, usually with a greenish-brown to yellowish-brown colour. Many apple cultivars have some russeting, but some are almost entirely covered in it, notably the Egremont Russet. Russet apples often exhibit exceptional scent and flavour, typically reminiscent of nuts, and are often very sweet. Despite this, modern apple breeders rarely accept russeting in new apple cultivars.
Russet apples also go under the name "rusticoat", "russeting" and "leathercoat". The latter name was known in Shakespeare's time; for instance, in Henry IV, part 2, Davy says to Bardolph, "there's a dish of leathercoats for you".
- Selected russet apples
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