Hens Turd Apple Variety – Nov 2020

I have a problem, this variety was given to me as scion wood. It is supposed to be a Hens Turd apple. I have no confirmed photo id of this variety, so I cannot verify it being correct.

If anybody can confirm it please contact me.

An article by the Gloucestershire Orchard Trust is as follows

October 2012  Hens’ Turd and Coccagee by Charles Martell

The Hens’ Turd apple is a Gloucestershire variety found at the riverside at Rodley. Recently, an Irish correspondent has written asserting this is the same variety as Coccagee. Certainly from its description it seems very similar although Hens’ Turd typically has a longer stem. Interestingly, the name Coccagee translates as goose turd. I don’t know whether Coccagee is still in existence but it was noted as a ‘very old and highly esteemed variety for culinary purposes, and especially for baking when it possesses a peculiarly rich flavour.’

Further; ‘This apple triumphs over all others in sauce, tarts and pies, as much as its juice in cider. No cook would ever make use of any other apple if he could get this.’ I wonder how these varieties earned their disparaging names. The only crude suggestion I can make is that these apples were used to stuff the bird, be it goose or fowl, before roasting.

My photos of this variety are as follows. In some ways the remark that it has a long stem (stalk) are correct. But mine is somewhat small and therefore not particularly good for peeling for culinary use.

However reference to Coccagee on Wikipedia   states

The fruit of the ‘Coccagee’ is small to medium-sized, ovate or conical, with pale yellow, green-flecked skin, the colour of which probably gave the variety its name.

As an addendum to this blog message 12th November 2020 – I have 4 fruit left on the tree, they certainly small. But the intial taste is very sweet with a distinct sharp aftertaste. The skin of the apple looks as though its covered with a grey/black mottled fungus mould or virus. But it does not rub off, it is part of the skinn. It does not seem to affect the flesh.