Season: September to October

Originating in Worcester in the 1870s, this has been a relatively popular apple from the start, and is still grown commercially coming into season a few weeks after Discovery.

Appearance: the shape is conical. The skin is smooth and the green/yellow background colour is covered almost completely by a bright red top colour. The flesh is white in colour.

Eating Characteristics: the flavour is sweet with a strong aromatic scent and unique strawberry-like flavour. The flesh is coarse-textured, firm and crisp with good levels of juice. As with any early variety, the flavour is very dependent on the weather during the short period that the apples ripen although the apple is known for its strawberry flavour, which can vary in intensity between apples and as such is a popular for the development of breeding programmes as well as amongst consumers.

Worcester apples have a distinct red crimson flush with the flavour of the apple benefiting if it is left on the tree slightly longer.