North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Mark Lee" <markl@nytec.com>]

Title: Re: [NAFEX] Sorbus 'Rabina'

The local arboretum has a huge collection of Sorbus.  I have explored these trees in the fall looking for any that might be worth growing for fruit.  Most make me gag.  Almost all are too bitter and astringent to consider being edible.  Most are very acid also.  I have found 2 Sorbus trees that I would like to grow (I have reported on these previously)...

 

Sorbus devoniensis when fully ripe has the flavor, sweetness and texture of dates. In England these are collected and fermented into an alchoholic drink.

 

Sorbus pallescens when fully ripe are sweet and tart with the flavor and texture of apricots.

 

It sounds like Rabina, and the one Lon grows, is free of the bitter-acid-astringent properties found in most Sorbus fruit.  Comments?

 

-Mark Lee, Seattle, zone 7B/8A

 

-----Original Message-----
From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org]On Behalf Of Lon J. Rombough
Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2004 9:51 AM
To: North American Fruit Explorers
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Sorbus 'Rabina'

I have one of the same type, not necessarily the same variety.  When first colored, it is quite acid, but after it hangs a while it tastes rather like an apple-flavore berry.  

Howdy alll

Jung's Nursery of Randoph, WI is offering a 'Rabina' mountain ash that it
says is edible, even "remarkably good tasting"..

Has anyone tasted/grown it?

Steve Herje, Lone Rock, WI   USDA zone 3