Gravenstein is an heirloom apple cultivar that originated as a necessary all-around apple for landowners long before the time of modern grocery stores. The fruit has a tart flavor, and all the necessary qualities heavily used as a cooking apple, especially for apple sauce and apple cider. Highly desirable for it's delicate and unique aroma which is imparted to baked goods, applesauce, and cider. This variety is only available in its harvest season, making Gravenstein quite a sought-after delicacy for bakers. The flavor of Gravenstein makes it best used for cooking, baking, and cider-pressing mainly due to its low sugar content and large fruit size. It's also a great choice due to the massive number of apples produced by a single Gravenstein tree! In fact Gravenstein is one of the largest-growing apple trees cultivated today, giving it the status of a shade tree as well. If you're looking for the maximum number of apples grown on a single tree, then Gravenstein is likely your best option. This apple is also among the oldest varieties still cultivated today, as records of growing Gravenstein apples date as far back as 1669. That means that this apple has been grown and enjoyed for over 300 years! This is the ultimate testament to its decadent flavor and numerous culinary uses. The fact that these apples continue to be in high demand despite not storing well is incredibly unique and is a sign that Gravenstein apples are among the best in the world.