Apple juice idea 'blushes' with unique use of special orchard's crop

A juice using unique apples has been growing in popularity from an equally interesting orchard in Braiseworth, near Eye.

Blush Naturally Pink Apple Juice is the brainchild of Rachael Gowland, using apples developed by her partner, orchard owner and apple technical consultant, Jeremy Linsell.

Jeremy bought the 60-acre orchard 25 years ago and now sells his apple varieties to the likes of Waitrose and Marks & Spencer.

But work with a very special apple is what caught Rachael’s eye.

She said: “Jeremy helps develop new varieties across the world, so that is how it links to Blush, as the juice comes from one of his development varieties.

“Red fleshed apples have been around for thousands of years, but the problem has traditionally been these came with a bitter taste.”

But with decades of natural cross pollination with sweeter varieties, which Jeremy has been involved with in an European breeding programme, it produced the Y101, known as the Kissabel apple.

The orchard became the first commercial farm in Britain to plant its trees and Jeremy is one of only five licensed growers growing it.

In 2020, Rachael began to take an interest in her partner’s work, working on a voluntary capacity and found out about the Kissabel.

The 43-year-old said: “I was amazed by this apple, its zesty sweetness and underlying tang.

“I had noticed at the end of the year the apples not up to market standard were taken off the trees and put on the floor - I could see they were unique and it was a real shame not to do anything with them.”

Using these apples, reducing the orchard’s food waste, and with the help of a small batch juice maker near Scratby, Blush was born.

Rachael said: “I work in stud farm management, so this is done at weekends and evenings, but I am passionate about it. We have a couple of outlets, but we are keen to find more who are interested in it.

“It is not just your run of the mill apple juice as it is not made from your run of the mill apples.”

For more, visit @braiseworthorchards on Instagram or to order and collect Blush from the farm, email Blush@braiseworth orchards.co.uk